PM Narendra Modi didn't answer my questions, mocked me instead: Rahul Gnadhi

NEW DELHI: Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark that he is happiest since the Congress vice president has "learnt" to speak, Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that PM Modi chose to mock him instead of answering questions posed by the Congress leader. "He didn't answer the questions I posed, but mocked at me. Modi ji, you are free to mock me but do respond to the questions of the youths of our country," Gandhi said while addressing a public rally at Bahraich in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh. While taking a jibe on Modi, the Congress leader invoked poet Ghalib and said, ''Har ek baat pe kehte ho ke tu kya hai, tumhi kaho ke yeh Andaaz-e-Guftagu kya hai' (At everything that I say, you say, 'Who are you'? Tell me what kind of conversation is this?) Gandhi, who on Wednesday alleged that Modi as Gujarat Chief Minister had taken money from Sahara and Birla groups, said that he wants PM to first tell what was contained in "10 packets" received from Sahara. Upping the ante against the government over the demonetisation issue, Gandhi said that its the poor and honest people who are queuing up in front of banks and not the 'thieves' or 'black money hoarders'. Earlier today, ridiculing Gandhi's remarks about bringing an "earthquake" with accusations of corruption against him, Modi said he is happiest since the Congress leader has "learnt" to speak as he has unwittingly admitted the "failure" of his party's reign. "They have a young leader who is just learning to give speeches. Since the time he has learnt to speak, there is no limit to my happiness. In 2009, you couldn't even tell what is inside this packet and what is not. Now we are finding out," Modi said without naming Gandhi. "He had been going around threatening that when he will speak, there will be an earthquake. If he hadn't spoken, there could have been an earthquake. It would have been an earthquake that people would have had to deal with for 10 years," he said. On Wednesday, Addressing a rally here in Modi's home state, Gujarat, Gandhi alleged that in the I-T records there are notings of Sahara officials' claims that they had paid 9 times to Modi between October, 2013 and February, 2014. Gandhi said the documents in this regard were with IT department which had raided the company when Modi was Gujarat Chief Minister. Similarly, as per documents with Income Tax department, the Birla group also paid Rs 12 crore to Modi when he was Chief Minister. Wondering as to why there has been no probe in the matter so far, Gandhi demanded an independent inquiry. Last week, Gandhi claimed that he had evidence of "personal corruption" of Prime Minister but he was being prevented from speaking in the Lok Sabha because it would cause an earthquake. (With PTI inputs)