PM has jumped to the rescue of Lalit Modi: Rahul

Says Lalit Modi is a man of black money in the world of cricket

Continuing his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Lalit Modi issue, Rahul Gandhi today said the man who had promised to bring back black money has now "jumped to the rescue" of a "man of black money".

Talking to reporters during his padayatra here, the Congress vice-president said, "Who is Lalit Modi? He is man of black money. In the world of cricket, he is man of black money. Now Modi ji is jumping to his rescue."

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He said that the entire nation remembers Narendra Modi promising voters during the election campaign last year to bring back black money and deposit Rs 15 lakh in each bank account.

"Now when the time has come Modi ji is saving Modi. BJP can say all they want to, but the truth is that PM is saving a man with black money," he said.

Replying to another question on the beleaguered External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Rahul said, "Swaraj has no meaning in the government. Only one person matters in the government and that is Narendra Modi.

"Narendra Modi runs the government and the country."

This is the second consecutive day that the Congress leader has targeted the Prime Minister on the 'Modigate' controversy.

"Lalit Modi is a symbol of black money. Mr Modi is standing behind Mr Modi. Who's Sushma Swarajji? She means nothing in this government," Gandhi had yesterday said.

Replying to a question about BJP standing behind Swaraj, Rahul said, "Of course, the party will stand behind Sushma Swarajji. The party is Mr Modi. Mr Modi is standing behind Mr Modi.

"It is not a question of Sushma ji resigning, PM Modiji should sack Sushma Swaraj ji from the government."

The Congress Vice President said Modi, "who wears a Rs 15 lakh suit," prefers to go to Australia and the US.

"If Modiji takes off his Rs 15 lakh suit and comes here to these villages, he will see the value of MNREGA," he said.