Airstrikes: PM slams Opposition over absence of Rafale, Congress says Modi solely responsible for delay in arrival of jets

PM Modi also hit out at the Opposition for doubting the armed forces on the anti-terror air strike in Pakistan.

By : ABP News Bureau | Updated at : 03 Mar 2019 08:17 AM (IST)

Airstrikes: PM slams Opposition over absence of Rafale, Congress says Modi solely responsible for delay in arrival of jets Airstrikes: PM slams Opposition over absence of Rafale, Congress says Modi solely responsible for delay in arrival of jets

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a jibe at the opposition over the issue of air strike and said the country is feeling the absence of Rafale fighter jets as the results could have been different if India had these aircraft. (PTI)

PM said the country is feeling the absence of Rafale fighter jets as the results could have been different if India had these aircraft.

PM Modi hit out at the Opposition for doubting the armed forces on the anti-terror air strike in Pakistan.

Rahul Gandhi said Modi is solely responsible for delay in arrival of jets.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a jibe at the opposition over the issue of air strike and said the country is feeling the absence of Rafale fighter jets as the results could have been different if India had these aircraft. He also hit out at them for doubting the armed forces on the anti-terror air strike in Pakistan. "India is feeling the absence of Rafale. The entire country is saying in one voice today, if we had Rafale probably the result would have been different. The country has suffered a lot due to selfish interests earlier and now politics over Rafale," he said at the India Today Conclave. In his response to the PM's allegations, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said Modi is solely responsible for delay in arrival of jets. Hitting out at Modi, Gandhi said that his allegations are mere 'narcissistic lies'. The Congress chief took to Twitter and said, "Dear PM, Have you no shame at all? YOU stole 30,000 Crore and gave it to your friend Anil. YOU are solely responsible for the delay in the arrival of the RAFALE jets." "YOU are WHY brave IAF pilots like Wing Cdr. Abhinandan, are risking their lives flying outdated jets," Gandhi wrote on Twitter. On Saturday, Modi said while the entire world stood behind India in its fight against terror, some parties in the country were questioning and raising doubts. He also hit out at his detractors, saying they are free to criticise him but their anti-Modi tirade should not harm the country's security interests and help terrorists such as Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed. "One of the challenges before the country is some people opposing their own country. When the entire nation today is standing with the armed forces, some parties are casting doubts on them." PM said. He further added, "These are the parties whose statements and articles are being used by Pakistan against India. In their fixation with criticising Modi, they are opposing the country and compromising its interests." Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been attacking Modi over the Rafale deal, alleging corruption and favourtism. The government has denied the charges. On the recent allegations by PM, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the nation witnessed a monologue by a "narcissistic" prime minister sans any sense of accountability. He said the prime minister is obsessed with one word-- 'Modi' -- and forgets that India is a thriving democracy of 132 crore people with a multitude of opinions.

Published at : 03 Mar 2019 08:14 AM (IST)