Modi is old and in a hurry, so telling lies: Rahul

Addressing a poll rally Congress president Rahul Gandhi called Prime Minister Narendra Modi as old. He also mentioned that he did not lie since lies gets exposed sooner or later. He also reiterated his challenge to Modi to take part in a 15-minute open debate on corruption, economy and national security with him.

Nagpur: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that unlike Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is "old and in a hurry", he was not interested in telling lies.

Addressing a poll rally here, the Congress leader asserted that he was in politics for the long haul and "here for another 10 to 15 years."

"I want to build a long-standing relationship with you. I will not speak lies. Modi has grown old and is in a hurry. So he is telling lies," Gandhi said.

"He did not lie since lies getexposed sooner or later," the Congress president said, adding that his party works while the BJP "only makes hollow promises".

Polling will be held in Nagpur Lok Sabha constituencyin the first phase on April 11.

Union minister Nitin Gadkariof the BJP is pitted against Congress' Nana Patole here.

Making a strong pitch for the 'Nyay' minimum incomeguarantee scheme of his party, Gandhi said that all economists havetold him that the scheme to deposit Rs 72,000 every month in
the bank accounts of the poor was feasible and can beimplemented without hurting India's economy.

"The 'Nyay' scheme is a surgical strike by Congress onpoverty. Every Indian should get a minimum of Rs 12,000 every month," he said, adding the Congress government will provideenough funds for the scheme.

"Corruption, unemployment and farmers' problems werethe priority issues for elections this time and Modi shouldexplain what he had done to tackle them in the last fiveyears," Gandhi said.

He reiterated his challenge to Modi to take part in a15-minute open debate on corruption, economy and nationalsecurity with him.

"He (Modi) will not be able to show his face to yousince he knows he can't answer questions. This is thereality," Gandhi said.

"Unemployment in the country has reached a 45-yearhigh," the Congress president claimed.

Hitting out at industrialist Anil Ambani, Gandhi saidAmbani had no money, no expertise in defence manufacturingand all his businesses had failed.

"Despite this, Anil Ambani got the biggest defencecontract (under the Rafale deal). His brother saved him fromgoing to jail," he said.

"Why should Anil Ambani get the Rafale contract andwhy not somebody from Vidarbha (region where the poll rally was held)," Gandhi said.