'What if not Om?' asks Rajnath Singh to Rahul Gandhi on Rafale attack

After facing backlash from the opposition over Rafale 'Shastra Puja' row, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi what he should have written on the fighter jet if not 'Om'. Singh has been on the offensive during the election rallies where he has heavily criticised the Congress party leaders who have blamed him for indulging in theatrics during his visit to France.

Singh goes after Gandhi

Addressing an election rally in Bhiwani, Haryana, Singh said, "Worshiping weapons during Vijayadashami is a tradition. When I wrote 'Om' on the Rafale jet, people said why I wrote it. I want to ask Rahul Gandhi if not 'Om', then what should I have written during 'Shastra Puja'?" During his visit to France earlier this week, Rajnath had emblazoned the Rafale fighter jet with an 'Om' and laid flowers, coconut, and lemons, believed to ward off the evil eye. The ceremony coincided with the foundation ceremony of the IAF. The Defence Minister even took a sortie in the Rafale jet.

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Singh received flak from the Opposition with Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge described him performing 'Shastra Puja' as "tamasha" (drama). Party leader Udit Raj also raised objections to it saying that the day "superstition" ends, India will make such fighter aircraft itself. Congress leader Rashid Alvi said, "This is a government of dramatics. You are going to France and performing puja, wasn't the Rafale jet coming to India? You are going to a foreign country and doing all this drama."

READ | Rajnath Singh Slams Congress Over Criticism Of Rafale 'Shastra Puja'

'BJP's guilt in Rafale deal'

At an event in Maharashtra a few days ago, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi once again accused the government of irregularities in the Rafale deal and said that it's was the government's guilt which made have Rajnath Singh personally take the delivery. He said, " \Congress leader Rashid Alvi said, "This is a government of dramatics. You are going to France and performing puja, wasn't the Rafale jet coming to India? You are going to a foreign country and doing all this drama. There has been some guilt in the minds of BJP leaders that they have made a mistake in the Rafale deal. Even Defence officials had claimed that PM Narendra Modi is interfering in the Rafale fighter jet deal. No one can run away from this truth, neither Narendra Modi, nor Amit Shah or the BJP. The truth will catch them one day

Assembly elections are due to be held in the state on October 21. Counting of votes will take place on October 24. 

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(With inputs from ANI)