In Dubai, Rahul Speaks on SP-BSP Alliance, Rafale Deal, CBI & More

Gandhi spoke on a range of issues, including the SP-BSP alliance, Rafale deal & PM Modi’s ‘rash’ economic decisions.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Dubai. 

(Photo: PTI)

Congress President Rahul Gandhi interacted with the media in Dubai on a range of issues, including the SP-BSP alliance, the Rafale jet deal and PM Modi's 'rash' economic decisions, on 12 January.

Hours after the SP and BSP announced their alliance without the Congress in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Gandhi said his party will fight the elections in the state with "full capacity".

Gandhi said he has "tremendous respect" for the leaders of the two parties and that they “have a right to do what they want to do".

“I think the Congress party has tremendous amount of offer to the people of Uttar Pradesh. So we will obviously do our best. As the Congress party, we will fight for our ideology. I think we might give a surprise or two to people.”

Rahul Gandhi, President, Congress

Rahul Clarifies His Remarks on Sitharaman

On being asked about his "misogynist" remarks about Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on which the NCW issued a notice to him, Gandhi said:

“Do not impose your sexism on me. The prime minister chose to send another person, that person happened to be a woman. I would have made a very similar comment if it had been a man...The prime minister should have delivered that defence, but he did not have the guts.”

Rahul Gandhi, President, Congress

Gandhi, on Wednesday, while addressing a rally in Jaipur, had said that Modi had sent a woman to defend him in Parliament on the Rafale fighter jet deal issue.

Rahul's Lists Questions on Rafale

Raising the issue over the Rafale deal, the Congress president posed several questions towards the prime minister, and specified that PM Modi hasn’t answered any of them.

“Why did Mr Anil Ambani get that contract? Why did he get Rs 30,000 crore? And, did anybody object to Mr Modi bypassing the entire Indian Air Force? Yes or no?”

Rahul Gandhi, President, Congress

'Why Was CBI Chief Sacked at 1:30 am?'

Responding to a reporter’s question over the CBI vs CBI row, Gandhi said a person who sacked the (former) CBI chief (Alok Verma) “twice in a row” "has no business to talk about anything”.

He attacked PM Modi saying:

“He should explain to our country why he handed Rs 30,000 crore to Mr Anil Ambani, why he sacked the CBI chief 1:30 am at night. And why then he threw a massive panic, tried to force Mr Kharge to come within a couple of hours to sack him, and eventually sacked him the next day without hearing the man.”

Rahul Gandhi, President, Congress

Congress President Defined His Stance on India-Pak Relationship

Asked about Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's overtures to start bilateral talks, Rahul said:

“I am all for peaceful relationship with Pakistan, but I will absolutely not tolerate violence being carried out on innocent Indians by the Pakistani State.”

Rahul Gandhi, President, Congress

"You cannot carry out acts of terror in India and expect India to talk kindly to you," said the Congress president.

'India Only Country to Change the Way They Measure GDP'

Rahul Gandhi said India is the only country in the world that has changed the way they measure the GDP, to show the world that the ruling party is doing better than they actually are.

“We will start doing what the Congress party has successfully done – put India on the path to economic progress and growth,” he added.

Gandhi Outlines Congress' Plans If They Come to Power in Centre

“India is facing a 14-year low with regard to investments flow in India. The central reason is a couple of ill-advised economic policies like demonetisation and poorly-designed GST, and also the atmosphere that is being vitiated.”

Rahul Gandhi, President, Congress

He said the Modi government is "attacking the strength of India by strangling our institutions".

"We will rebuild trust in our institutions like the RBI, ECI, the Supreme Court, who are under systematic attack by the Modi govt," Rahul said. He also asserted that if the Congress comes to power it will take some rational economic decisions and restructure the GST and bring investments from the Middle East and other parts of the world.

Attacking the Modi government on rising intolerance, Rahul Gandhi said that just like the UAE, which had declared 2019 as the 'Year of Tolerance', India also believes and celebrates tolerance, but "there is a little bit of aberration going on in India, where the BJP is being very aggressive, intolerant and attacking and destroying our institutions”.

He added that it is a "temporary blip" which will be "taken care of" after the 2019 elections.

With the 2019 elections approaching, Rahul Gandhi also promised a special status for Andhra Pradesh, once they come to power in Centre.

On his two-day maiden visit to the UAE, Gandhi also addressed the Indian diaspora and Indian workers’ community in Dubai on 11 January.

(With inputs from PTI)