One chowkidar has defamed all others: Rahul’s swipe at PM

Ranchi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying "all chowkidars are not thieves, but only ‘desh ka chowkidar’ is a thief". Addressing a Congress rally here, Gandhi said ‘chowkidars’ (watchmen) come to him and complain about the slogan ‘chowkidar chor hain’ (watchmen are thieves).

They say they are not thieves but honest people, and ask me to change the slogan, the Congress chief said. “I tell them not to get worried as the entire country knows that when we say ‘chowkidaar chor hai’, it’s meant that we are talking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Gandhi said.

He said, “One chowkidar has defamed all the chowkidars.”The Congress chief also attacked the Prime Minister on the Rafale issue, alleging corruption in the fighter jet deal. He said the Indian Air Force defends the country, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi "snatched" Rs 30,000 crore from the force.

Gandhi alleged there was "corruption" in the Rafale deal and Rs 30,000 crore had been wrongfully given to Anil Ambani. "Vaayu Sena desh ki raksha karti hain aur hamare PM use chori karti hain (The IAF defends our country but the PM has snatched money from the force)," he said.

Gandhi alleged the Prime Minister had waived Rs 3.5 lakh crore loan of industrialists but not for farmers, students and shopkeepers. The Congress president said if his party is voted to power, it will give minimum guarantee income. The money will be transferred directly to the accounts of the poor, he said.