No interest in telling lies like PM Modi: Rahul Gandhi

Addressing an election rally for the party's candidates from the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra at the historical Kasturchand Park here, he said, "I am here for the long haul, I am not interested in telling lies like PM Modi. Lies get exposed sooner or later. Congress wants to work, BJP just makes hollow claims."

"I want to build a long-standing relationship with the people and I will not speak lies," he reiterated.

Gandhi also reiterated his challenge to Modi to take part in a 15-minute open debate on pressing issues concerning the nation like corruption, economy and national security with him.

Launching a blistering attack on industrialist Anil Ambani, the Congress chief said that despite having neither money nor expertise in defence manufacturing, Ambani got the biggest defence contract under the Rafale jet deal and claimed that his brother (Mukesh) saved him from going to jail.

"Why should Anil Ambani get the Rafale contract and not somebody from the Vidarbha region," he said and pointed that Ambani got Rs. 45,000 crore waived off.

Talking about the party's manifesto, the Congress chief described it as a "ground-breaking" the proposal to transfer Rs 72,000 annually to 20 per cent of the poorest families in the country and assured to wipe out poverty from the country if voted to power.

The scheme will be implemented, that too without being fiscally affected, he added.