Rahul sends love to Modi after he calls Rajiv "corrupt"

PM Modi attacked Rahul for raking the Rafale deal issue. He reminded Congress President that he wasn't born rich.

"Your father was termed 'Mr. Clean' by his courtiers, but his life ended as ''Bhrashtachari No 1'' (corrupt number 1). By tarnishing my image and by making me look small, these people want to form an unstable and weak government in the country," he said.

What PM Modi said about Gandhi Sr. gained attention. Though he stayed away from taking names, he was obviously referring to Bofors scandal which mired Rajiv's tenure.

Media reports unearthed that Rajiv and his accomplices got kickbacks from Swedish defense manufacturer Bofors for sale of artillery to India.

The scam ensured Rajiv didn't return to power. Notably, he was assassinated in 1991.

To recall, BJP has reminded Congress of Bofors scam and its implications, whenever the latter spoke about Rafale.

In her impassioned rebuttal to Rahul's allegations that PM Modi ignored rules and ensured Anil Ambani became an offset partner of Dassault Aviation, Nirmala Sitharaman said in Lok Sabha in January that "Bofors brought down Rajiv Gandhi but Rafale will bring back PM Modi".

After PM Modi's speech got attention, Congress leaders naturally slammed him.

Former Union Finance Minister called tweeted, "Mr. Modi has crossed all limits of propriety and decency by defaming a man (Rajiv Gandhi) who died in 1991."

"Those whose nationalism is pseudo and whose politics is based on dividing people will never understand Rajiv Gandhi and his sacrifice for the nation," wrote Ahmed Patel.