Inexperienced Ambani chosen by PM over experienced HAL: Rahul

Congress president Rahul Gandhi Monday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale deal, saying he ensured "inexperienced" industrialist Anil Ambani got it, but not state-owned HAL which made some of the planes used in the Balakot air strike.

The Indian Air Force carried out strikes on terror camps in Balakot in February, after the Pulwama terror attack, in which 40 CRPF men were killed.

Gandhi made the remarks at a rally here as he campaigned for Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan who is contesting from the Nanded Lok Sabha constituency.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is a state-run company that manufactures and maintains fighter planes.

"Anil Ambani never made an aircraft but HAL knows how to make planes. They have been doing it for the last 70 years," Gandhi said.

"The planes which did the air strikes in Balakot? HAL. Sukhoi, Jaguar, Mirage, MiG. HAL is a government company and is making planes for the last 70 years," he said.

Gandhi said when he raised questions over the deal in Parliament, Modi evaded answers on the issue.

"For one-and-a-half hours he spoke (in Parliament). He took names of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi...But could not look into the eyes of the country.

"He did not talk about the Rafale deal, Anil Ambani...Because the chowkidar (watchman) is chor (thief)," Gandhi said.