Rahul Gandhi said he had information of corruption against PM Narendra Modi.
Highlights
- Rahul Gandhi says he has information against PM of corruption
- BJP rubbishes charge, says Congress is blocking parliament
- Opposition wants to cover up parliament block with allegation: BJP
Where was Rahul Gandhi for the last 20 days of the winter session of parliament, asked senior union minister Ananth Kumar of the BJP, dismissing as a "sign of desperation" the Congress vice president's
explosive claim today that he has "information on personal corruption" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The BJP has linked the timing of Mr Gandhi's comments to a sting operation aired by a television channel that showed an alleged scam to exchange old currency notes for new at the Congress' headquarters. "They have been exposed... Rahul Gandhi is making baseless allegations. He should instead apologise to the nation," said Ananth Kumar, who has accused the opposition of "sabotaging" parliament proceedings with continuous disruptions over PM Modi's ban on 500 and 1000 rupee notes, aimed at combating corruption and black or undeclared money.
After parliament was adjourned yet again amid slogan shouting today, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government was not allowing him to speak in the House on the notes ban, saying, "Read my lips...the PM is personally terrified of the info I have, we have. It is personal corruption of the PM that we have detailed information on." He had with him leaders from 16 opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress and the Left.
The BJP fielded a phalanx of leaders to hit back at the Congress vice president and point out that it was in fact the opposition that has been holding up parliament. If Mr Gandhi had information to share in parliament, "he could have done it on day 1, on day 2. Till today he was not ready to speak," Mr Kumar said.
"Rahulji we want you to speak. When you do, you expose the Congress, so we want you to speak," said another senior minister Prakash Javadekar. He too alleged, "They have been unmasked, so they are making these allegations."
Prime Minister Modi, Mr Javadekar said, has the support of "125 crore people because his record is untainted."
BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao dared Mr Gandhi to make his revelations. "Rahul Gandhi is making a joke of himself, he said.
The government says PM Modi has been ready to speak in a parliament debate but the opposition has not allowed such a discussion to happen. The two sides have failed to agree on how to hold that discussion - with or without a vote at the end.
The winter session, which began on November 16 and ends this Friday, has been washed out by the frequent disruptions and most crucial bills that the government had lined up, including legislation related to Goods and Services Tax or GST, are set to be pushed to the Budget session that begins in January.