Journalists were prevented from entering PM's presser: Rahul Gandhi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, whose press conference coincided with that of the BJP, which saw PM Modi making his debut, accused the saffron party of allowing selective media persons to enter its press conference being held in New Delhi.

New Delhi:Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday mocked the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) press conference, which saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi making his debut, and accused the party of preventing journalists from entering the presser addressed by party chief Amit Shah.

"I was told that doors have been locked to prevent journalists who want to enter. I asked Randeep ji (Randeep Surjewala) to send some journalist from our side. He said he cannot as doors are locked," said Gandhi while addressing a party press conference which coincided with that of the BJP.

Gandhi was addressing the media after concluding his last Lok Sabha poll campaign rally.

Held days before the conclusion of elections on May 19, Gandhi termed the PM's press conference as "unprecedented" and said, "Very good, very impressive. PM's first press conference happens 4-5 days before election results."

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Further taking a jibe at Modi for "accompanying" Amit Shah to the press conference, but not having a debate with him on Rafale deal case, Gandhi said, "Now that the Prime Minister is doing a live press conference, I want to ask him 'why didn't you debate with me on Rafale? I had challenged you for a debate, tell the press why didn't you debate?"

Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in the party presser for the first time since he took office, he did not take a single question from the media and responded saying, "I am a disciplined soldier. In our party, the president is everything."