BJP coins counter to Rahul Gandhi's "Gali Gali me shor hai, chowkidaar chor hai" barb, after SC's Rafale verdict

The BJP has fired back at Congress president Rahul Gandhi over the latter's headline 'Chowkidaar chor hai' attack at the Prime Minister in light of the Supreme Court's verdict dismissing petitions seeking a court-monitored probe into the Rafale deal.

Earlier, as part of Rahul Gandhi's months-long campaign alleging a scam in the Rafale deal, the Congress chief had coined the slogan: "Gali gali me shor hai, chowkidaar chor hai" (There's shouting in the streets: The watchman is a thief)

In response, BJP spokesperson Dr Sambit Patra has tweeted:

"Ab toh yeh sure hai, Chowkidaar pure hai" (Now it is for sure, the watchman is pure)

BJP party president Amit Shah also fired back citing Rahul Gandhi's barb while addressing a news conference following the verdict, saying, "All the chors gathered together to call the chowkidaar a chor, but the country never believed it."

A furious political slugfest has erupted on Friday following the apex court's verdict. The BJP has claimed vindication over the deal, accusing the Congress of attempting to mislead the people of the country. A number of party leaders have issued statements:

Amit Shah has also demanded that Rahul Gandhi reveal his source for alleging scam.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted:

"Satyamev Jayate: Once again, Rahul Gandhi's blatant lies stand exposed. Supreme Court has dismissed any probe into the Rafale Deal. The entire nation has been lied to for political mileage #SCNailsRaGaLies."

On the other hand, even as demands were made for Rahul Gandhi to apologise for his allegations, the Congress and the petitioners in the case have held firm on their insistence of a scam in the intergovernmental deal between India and France for the purchase of 36 Rafale multirole fighters.

Prashant Bhushan, one of the petitioners in the case, tweeted the following: