New Delhi: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and said he was here to protect the nation from them.
"I am here to protect the people from the RSS, from Narendra Modi. I am here to defend this country from the RSS," Rahul said shortly after both House of Parliament were adjourned sine die.
"The way this country is heading, media will not be able to function," he said, expressing fears that the Modi government is trying to curtail the freedom of the press.
"The way this country is heading, you have cameras, are very happy to take films, you will not be able to do it."
"You people have been banned, notices have been sent to three channels, why? Because you are doing your work," Rahul told reporters.
"When your work clashes with the views of the RSS, your mouth will be shut. We are protecting you, remember that," he added.
Rahul also slammed External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
“Sushma ji spoke a lot in Parliament yesterday but did not answer the two questions we asked,” said Rahul.
"Arun Jaitley also defended Lalit Modi. It is clear that there are two networks in IPL. One is which the youth of the country see - batting, bowling and fielding. The other is Lalit Modi," he added.
"Lalit Modi's network is the network of corruption and operates behind closed doors," he stated further, adding "I have been telling the PM. This is a big opportunity for you, to catch Lalit Modi and bring him back and clean up cricket."
"Modi earlier gave up on Land Ordinance. Now he has the opportunity to bring back Lalit Modi," he adds.
"Sushma ji protected black money network of Lalit Modi. To Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I say the youth is understanding the nexus. Yesteday, both Sushma ji and Arun Jaitley ji protected this corruption," the Congress VP charged, adding “Lalit Modi is the biggest link between political system and black money system”.
Rahul further said that PM Modi was afraid of the Opposition.
"When we had lost the elections, we had thought that Narendra Modi is strong. But now, we don't think he is strong," said Rahul.
"We have realised that this PM is afraid (of Opposition). We will exert so much pressure that Lalit Modi will be brought back and cricket cleaned up," he adds.
Rahul also slammed Sushma Swaraj for raking up the Bofors scandal during her speech in Parliament yesterday.
"The judicial system of India has cleared Rajiv Gandhi. Again and again they bring it up. It makes no difference to me," said Rahul Gandhi.
"The judicial system of India has given a statement saying, this was a campaign against Rajiv Gandhi, there's nothing in this," he added.
