Amid boiling Rafale row, BJP chief Amit Shah on Saturday took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi accusing him of speaking on the lines of Pakistan and asked the Congress President whether he was trying to forge an international alliance in the name of “Modi Hatao”.

Shah used a tweet of Pakistan minister Fawad Hussain to throw barbs at Gandhi.

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Hussain had tagged Gandhi’s tweets attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale deal to say that they explain the “BJP-led tirade against Pakistan”.

“Rahul Gandhi says ‘Modi Hatao. Pakistan says ‘Modi Hatao’. Now Pakistan also supports Rahul Gandh’s baseless allegations against PM Modi. Is Congress forming an international mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) against PM Modi,” Shah said in a tweet.

Rahul Gandhi says ‘Modi Hatao’
Pakistan says ‘Modi Hatao’

Now Pakistan also supports Rahul Gandhi’s baseless allegations against PM Modi.

Is Congress forming an International Mahagathbandhan against PM Modi?#NaPakNaCongresshttps://t.co/eHBs0DGfBP

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 22, 2018

Shah’s remarks came amid a political war with Rahul Gandhi terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “thief” and “corrupt” in the Rafale deal as the BJP hit back saying the Gandhi family is out on bail and is the “source of all corruption in the country”.

Earilier, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad accused Rahul Gandhi of playing into the hands of Pakistan.

Congress Spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala was quick to react on Shah’s attack, saying pseudo-nationalism was BJP’s old ploy.

“Amit Shahji, faced with charges of rampant corruption and crony capitalism, pseudo-nationalism is ur old ploy. Did you and PM form a Mahagathbandhan with Pak and ISI when- 1.Modiji went uninvited to Pak and Pathankot Attack happened; 2. You invited the rogue ISI to Pathankot and praised Pakistan,” he tweeted.

Rahul Gandhi on Saturday had sharpened his attack on PM Modi following the explosive statement from former French President Francois Hollande on Rafale deal.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, the Congress chief said Hollande was calling the Prime Minister of India a “thief” and that it was time for PM Modi to break his silence.

“Former French president calls our PM a thief… What is staggering is that the Prime Minister is still silent on it. Not a single word from him,” said Gandhi.

“The former French president has clearly and categorically said that the prime minister himself suggested the name of Anil Ambani’s company. He says that in the meeting with the prime minister he was told that this was his only option. It is now for the prime minister to clear his name… we are absolutely convinced that the prime minister is corrupt. I’m trying to help him protect his office. He must clarify,” the Congress president added.

Read | Rahul Gandhi is trying to help Pakistan: Ravi Shankar Prasad

Gandhi added that the contract was snatched away from HAL after which it was given to Anil Ambani, who has a Rs 45000 crore debt.

Hollande had on Friday claimed that the Indian government had proposed the name of Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence as the India partner for the 36 Rafale jet deal. He added that French government wasn’t given a choice on the matter.

France and the Dassault Aviation (the maker of the Rafale jet) have contradicted Hollande’s claim with Dassault admitting that it chose Rafale as its Indian partner.

(With agency inputs)