Expressing confidence in a victory of the Congress and its allies, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi said on Thursday that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was considered invincible in 2004 but was defeated.
The 72-year-old Gandhi, who was accompanied by her son and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, made the remarks to media persons after filing her nomination papers in Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency.
When asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi is invincible, Gandhi said, “Not at all, not at all. Don’t forget 2004. Vajpayee-ji was invincible, but we won.”
She was referring to the high-profile ‘India Shining’ campaign and Vajpayee’s own stature in India’s politics.
“Modi ji bahut kuch kehte hai, bahut kuch bole, abhi bhi kuch aur bol rahe hai…log jawab denge (Modi ji has said a lot, has been saying a lot and is constantly saying something. The people will give an answer),” she added.
Gandhi is the sitting MP from this seat in eastern Uttar Pradesh and is contesting for the fourth time.
Addressing the media after his mother, Rahul Gandhi, too, slammed PM Modi calling him “arrogant”.
“There have been many people in Indian history who have had the arrogance to believe that they were invincible and bigger than the people of India. Narendra Modi, for the last 5 years, has done nothing for the people of India. His invincibility will be in full view after the election results,” he said.
At the same time, he continued his attack on the Modi government over the Rafale deal.
“Modi should explain to me why his ‘bhai’ Anil Ambani got Rafale contract despite never making an aircraft in his life. He should explain the ‘probe’ by the Supreme Court,” Gandhi said.
“Do whatever you have to do. Take any action against me. I have not done anything wrong,” the 48-year-old Congress president added.
“I am ready for an open debate. The day he holds a debate with me the country will know that Chowkidar is chor,” he said.
Before filing her nomination, Sonia Gandhi followed a 50-year-old family tradition by performing a pooja. At the time of filing her nomination, Sonia Gandhi was accompanied by her son, daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and son-in-law Robert Vadra.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is leading the Congress campaign in UP east as general secretary of the party.