"How much does he know"? Jaitley asks after Rahul attack on Modi govt: Cong hits back

Union minister Arun Jaitley fired back at Rahul Gandhi after his blistering attack on the Modi government today, hurling a "how much does he know?, when will he know?" jibe that ignited a new war of words with the Congress.

The Congress president's speech at a farmers' rally in Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh in which he took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi also drew another taunt from the BJP with a state minister in the poll-bound state saying it was "scripted", like the one delivered by a character in the Bollywood hit "3 Idiots".

Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala quickly hit back at Jaitley over his jibe at Gandhi, asking instead how much does he know, alleging that arrogance of the BJP has touched its "zenith" as they have turned "blind" to farm distress.

In a Facebook post in response to Gandhi's speech earlier in the day, Jaitley also rejected Gandhi's accusation during his speech that Modi has waived the loans of Rs 2.5 lakh crore of the 15 top industrialists, saying this is factually and completely false.

The government, he said has not waived a single rupee due from any industrialist. "The facts are to the contrary".

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said the allegation was the Congress chief's attempt to register his presence after a "vacation" abroad. Gandhi's speech was his first public event following his return from abroad, where he said he had gone for his mother Sonia Gandhi's regular medical check-up,
"Every time I listen to the view of Shri Rahul Gandhi, both inside and outside Parliament, I ask myself the same question How much does he know? When will he know?"
Separately, Jaitley tweeted that measures taken by the prime minister for welfare of farmers, betterment of economy and for benefit of every citizen of India are globally acknowledged. "Mr. Rahul Gandhi must check facts before stating the reverse which will only aggravate his party's fallibility."