Hitting back, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “What is it that Congress and Pakistan have in common? The commonality is the frustration of both and their only aim is to somehow remove Modiji from Indian polity.”

He asks the prime minister for answers on why Rafale price was not disclosed and how Ambani got the contract.  

“The officer has stated that as part of his professional duties he interacted with SPG protectees; however, he has categorically stated that during his interaction with Gandhi, there was no talk whatsoever regarding the appointment of a new Director or the reasons for his leaving SPG,” the statement further read.

Speaking at an interactive event at a management institute in Lucknow, his Lok Sabha constituency, Singh said the Bharatiya Janata Party always believed in differing on political and ideological issues and never took things to personal level.  

His scheduled programs include laying the foundation stones of development projects that would be implemented using his MPLAD funds. 

Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s allegations based on former French President Francois Hollande’s statement to a magazine, Rajnath Singh said that the verification of the French media report will reveal the truth.

A French media report had earlier quoted former French President Francois Hollande as saying that the Indian government proposed Reliance Defence as the partner for Dassault Aviation in the Rs 58,000 crore Rafale deal and France did not have a choice.

Addressing eminent academicians at an event at Siri Fort auditorium in New Delhi, Rahul Gandhi said that the strength of the country is that people are allowed to discuss ideas.

Rahul Gandhi described the Rafale deal as a 'surgical strike' on Indian defence forces while blaming PM Modi and Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani for it.

During his visit, the Congress chief will take part in the district vigilance and monitoring committee meeting at the Collectorate in Gauriganj, district unit president of the party, Yogendra Misra said.

Amit Shah’s comments came after Maharashtra police arrested five human rights activists late last month for their alleged links with Maoists.

Gandhi’s remark at a public meeting provoked a strong reaction from the BJP with Union minister Smriti Irani calling him the “clown prince” who had no respect for the prime minister’s post.

Later in the day, Gandhi will also address a public gathering at Bhikhabhai college in Sagwara.

Shah lauded Rajasthan for playing an important role in formation of the Modi government at the Centre with a huge majority. The BJP won all 25 Lok Sabha seats from the state in the 2014 general elections. 

"Prime Minister, your silence is unacceptable. Shame on a government that leaves India's women unprotected and afraid and allows rapists to walk free," Gandhi wrote on Twitter.

Gandhi was addressing a public meeting in Bhopal after holding a 15 kilometre roadshow to kickstart the Congress’ campaign for the assembly polls slated later this year.

Gandhi was received at the airport by Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath and senior party leader and Guna MP Jyotiraditya Scindia among others.

Before Gandhi's visit, posters and cutouts of Congress president and other party leaders came up in Bhopal. In the posters, Gandhi was shown as a devotee of Lord Shiva.

Gandhi's roadshow will start from Lalghati Chowk and conclude at Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd's Dussehra Maidan.

Rahul Gandhi said the CBI changed the status of the lookout notice against Mallya and claimed that the PM was aware of it.