Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday mocked Rahul Gandhi saying that the launch of the young Congress leader has not happened in the last 20 years even as the BJP is all set to launch Gaganyaan in five years.

Addressing a public rally in Kerala’s Kottayam to garner support for BJP candidate Anil K Antony, Singh said, “BJP is going to launch Gaganyaan in 5 years but the launch of a young leader of the Congress party has not happened in the last 20 years. Congress party’s ‘Rahulyaan’ is neither getting launched nor is it landing anywhere.”

Singh said that after his defeat from Amethi Lok Sabha seat in 2019, Rahul does not have the courage to stand from there this time.

“Rahul has migrated from Uttar Pradesh to Kerala. Last time he had lost the election in Amethi. This time he is not able to muster the courage to contest from Amethi. But this time the people of Wayanad have also made up their minds that they will not make Rahul their Member of Parliament….,” added the Defence Minister.

Veteran Congress leader and former defence minister A K Antony had earlier called for the defeat of his son Anil Antony, who is contesting as a BJP candidate from Kerala’s Pathanamthitta constituency in the Lok Sabha elections.

It was “wrong” for children of Congress leaders to join the BJP, Antony said, adding “Congress is my religion”.

While praising the Congress stalwart, Singh said he was surprised on reading Antony’s statement that Anil Antony should lose in the Lok Sabha polls.

“I know he (A K Antony) is a principled person and I understand his compulsions. It is difficult for him to support Anil Antony. However, I would like to tell him that Anil is your son. You (A K Antony) may not vote for him (Anil) or canvass votes for him, but you are his father so I would like to request that your blessings should be with him,” Singh added.

Meanwhile, addressing a public meeting in Kannur, Gandhi attacked the BJP for its plans of imposing one history, one nation, and one language on the people of India and emphasised that the Congress was striving to protect the diversity of this great nation.

“Congress and UDF accept the diversity of India. we accept the multiple languages, the multiple traditions, the different histories, and the different expressions of all our people. The BJP wants to impose one history, one nation, and one language on the people of India…For example, if you remove Malayalam from Kerala, then how a mother in the state will explain the history of this great land to her children…So, this is what we are protecting…,” said the Congress MP from Wayanad.

The Lok Sabha elections in Kerala will be held on 26 April and the results will be declared on 4 June.

With inputs from agencies

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‘Rahulyaan neither getting launched nor landing anywhere’: Rajnath Singh jabs Rahul Gandhi