BJP mocks at DMK's Rahul for PM pitch, says post not vacant

The BJP Tuesday mocked at DMK over its pitch for Rahul Gandhi as the Opposition's prime ministerial candidate, with party general secretary Ram Madhav asserting the PM's post was not vacant for another 10 years.

He said DMK chief M K Stalin's proposal had not found resonance even within the parties the Congress wants in the proposed grand alliance.

On the Rafale deal, Madhav challenged the opposition to a debate in Parliament in the presence of all its members instead of seeking an "escape route" of a Joint Parliamentary Committee, which would comprise only 25-30 members.

Madhav said the Congress and other opposition parties were trying to stitch together a grand alliance by "propagating lies" over the Rafale deal.

"We are challenging the Opposition. If they are ready, let us debate it (the Rafale issue) in Parliament. They cannot take an escape route in the name of JPC and try and continue their propaganda of lies....this shall not be allowed."
Targeting Stalin for his criticism of Modi and the Centre, he said, "I pity some leaders...khud naam Stalin (a reference to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin) hai... (and) he calls others fascists...We have seen the face of fascism in the state under the great DMK."
"It was better to look at their own faces in mirror rather than try to throw mud at great leaders like PM Modi ...this kind of language used against top leaders like the prime minister does not behove (them) well."
Madhav said the Supreme Court judgment proved that the Modi government was not only "non-corrupt it is also incorruptible...billions of dollars worth deals like Rafale are being clinched in an utmost transparent manner, no middlemen, no socpe for irregularity."