Rahul holds roadshow in MP, attacks Modi govt over Rafale,

Holding a 15-km roadshow in poll- bound Madhya Pradesh, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale fighter deal and termed demonetisation as the "biggest scam".

Gandhi held the four-hour-long roadshow after performing 'puja' and taking blessings from 11 priests.

Travelling in a bus, the 48-year-old leader criss-crossed several areas of Bhopal, passing through the roads which were decorated and had party banners like the ones describing Gandhi as a 'Shiv bhakt' (a devotee of Lord Shiva).

The roadshow was the virtual launch of the Congress campaign for the assembly polls slated later this year, in which his party has the tought task of dislodging the BJP which has been ruling the state for the last 15 years.

Thousands of Congress workers and local residents flanked the roads and jostled to catch a glimpse of Gandhi, who was accompanied by senior party leaders, including state Congress president Kamal Nath and state party's campaign panel chairman Jyotiraditya Scindia.

En route, he had a brief halt to have tea and 'samosa' at a roadside stall near Sadar Manzil.

He also posed for a selfie with the tea stall owner and his staff, Congress MLA from Indore Jitu Patwari told PTI.

After the roadshow, Gandhi addressed a public meeting, during which he attacked the Modi government over Rafale deal with France, demonetisation, GST and farm loan waiver.

Referring to the Rafale deal, Gandhi told the gathering, "This is your money. 'Choukidar chori kar gaya' (Watchman has indulged in a theft)."
Gandhi claimed that when Modi went to Paris, his delegation included Anil Ambani", he said, adding, "Anil Ambani and 'chowkidar' have a friendship."
He claimed that "Neither (Defence Minister Manohar) Parikar, nor Cabinet Committee on Security was asked. The contract was straightaway given to Anil Ambani."
Referring to demonetisation, Gandhi said on Monday that it was "the biggest scam that the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has undertaken in four years which the Congress had not done in the last 70 years."
He asked the gathering, "Have you seen people like Vijay Mallya or Anil Ambani standing in queues after demonetization?"