Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday launched over Rs10bn worth of projects in Rae Bareli and accused the Congress of aiding those who he said wanted to weaken the Indian army.
“Today, there are two camps in the country. One is the government that is trying to strengthen our army. The other wants to weaken our army at any cost,” Modi said, flagging off the 900th coach of Modern Rail Factory and a Humsafar Rake in Rae Bareli, which is Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s Lok Sabha constituency.
“The country is seeing that the Congress stands by those powers who don’t want our armed forces to be strengthened,” Modi added, in an obvious reference to Sonia’s son and Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s attacks on him over the Rafale jet deal with France.
The prime minister said the country was watching “such people” who he added were “getting support of countries pitted against India”.
“What is the reason that people in Pakistan clap when some of our leaders speak?”
The prime minister pointedly accused the Congress of raising questions over the dignity of the Defence Ministry, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Indian Air Force, France and the Supreme Court over the purchase of Rafale jet aircraft.
“Some people only accept lies and speak lies. For them the country’s Defence Ministry, defence minster and air force officers are liars. The French government is also a liar. Now, the country’s Supreme Court is also a liar for them.
“But truth does not need ‘shringaar’ (makeup) and lies will always die. The country will never forgive the Congress over its attitude towards the army.” Again, the prime minister said “some people” felt ashamed of shouting “Bharat Mata ki Jai”.
“What kind of people are they who do not care about the country? I know that they want to abuse Modi. They want to frame Modi for corruption. But I want to know why they have put the country’s pride at stake for this. Why is national security being put on stake?”
Laying the foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs10bn in Rae Bareli, Modi accused the Congress of ignoring the military’s demand for modern aircraft and bulletproof jackets.
“After the Kargil War, our armed forces sought modern aircraft. The Congress ruled the country for 10 years but it did not strengthen the air force. The army demanded 186,000 bulletproof jackets in 2009 but the demand was not met. After forming the government in 2014, we purchased and handed over 50,000 bulletproof jackets. In April, an order has been given to procure all 186,000 bulletproof jackets which are being manufactured here,” Modi said.
It would take more than a week to speak about the “sins” of the Congress, he said.
On defence deals, the Congress history was linked with Bofors scamst accused “Quattrocchi Mama”, he added. Italian businessman Quattrocchi was linked to bribery charges in the Bofors scandal.
Another “uncle Christian Michel”, Modi said, was involved in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper procurement deal.
“We have also seen how the Congress sent its lawyer to save this accused. I want to know why the Congress is enraged and speaking lies. Is it all because there is no ‘Quattrocchi mama’ and ‘Christian Michel uncle’ in defence deals being done by BJP government? Had a Congress government been formed after 2014, our pride, Tejas fighter jet, would have been put in cold storage...
“Our government gave permission to buy 83 new Tejas fighter planes. We also gave permission to sanction Rs1,400 crore to double the capacity of HAL to manufacture Tejas.
“The Congress attacks the army with a pre-decided strategy to weaken it... In Congress regime, neither soldier nor farmer was taken care of.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspects the Modern Rail Factory in Rae Barel in Uttar Pradesh yesterday.
