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PM challenges Cong to fight in the name of \'bofors-accused\' Rajiv Gandhi

The alleged Bofors scam led to the collapse of the Rajiv Gandhi-led government in the 1980s.

Jharkhand: Addressing a rally here on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi challenged the Congress to “fight polls in the name of the Bofors-accused former PM Rajiv Gandhi”.

Continuing his tirade against Congress, Modi dared the party that if it "cares" about the party veteran's respect, it should fight elections in Bhopal, Delhi, and Punjab where polls are due on the issue of his respect.

PM Modi gave a reminded to the Oppositions that there are two more rounds of elections to go, which also includes the polls for the national capital, Delhi. "I challenge the Congress party, the family of dynasts, their courtiers, their minions... If you have the guts, fight the Delhi polls for the honour of that former PM of the Congress, who had serious allegations against him and for whom you have been shedding tears for the last two days," he said.

"I have the courage to put this challenge in front of you. Now let's see whether Congress and Mahamilavi (highly adulterated) people accept this Chowkidar's challenge," Modi said, adding that he had just "recalled the old misdeeds of a member of the naamdar (dynast) family."

"They (Congress) have been abusing the Prime Minister of the country for last one year. I just make people remember about corruption in the Bofors deal. It created a storm. Some people felt a very intense ache in their stomach. The more these people will cry, the more this generation will become aware of how a family looted and destroyed the country," Modi said.

He also accused the Congress of patronising corrupt leaders in the Opposition.

Launching a blistering attack on Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a rally in Uttar Pradesh last week said that the life of his father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi ended as ''corrupt number 1'' in an apparent reference to Bofors case.

Modi said, "Your father was termed 'Mr Clean' by his courtiers, but his life ended as Bhrashtachari No 1 (corrupt number 1)''.

Responding to PM Modi's remark on his father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi tweeted on Sunday: "Modi Ji, the battle is over. Your Karma awaits you. Projecting your inner beliefs about yourself onto my father won’t protect you. All my love and a huge hug."

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley backed PM in a series of tweets saying Rahul Gandhi thinks that "dynast" does not have to answer any question even though he can attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- a man of utmost integrity.

The alleged Bofors scam led to the collapse of the Rajiv Gandhi-led government in the 1980s.

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