BJP now calls Rahul Gandhi Alibaba, the scamster, from 1001 Arabian Nights

Alibaba aur Chaalis Chor is a tale from the book '1001 Arabian Nights' with a middle-aged scamster as the central character.

Alibaba aur chaalis chor machaaye chaukidaar ka shor, Sambit Patra said on Rahul Gandhi. (File photo: PTI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday accused the Congress party of wide-scale corruption, referring to its chief Rahul Gandhi as Alibaba and his party cadre as chaalis chor.

Alibaba aur Chaalis Chor is a tale from the book '1001 Arabian Nights' with a middle-aged scamster as the central character. He had 40 accomplices who helped him dupe people and steal all their money.

The BJP's attack came a day after Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi were accused, in a media report, of renting out their sprawling 4.69-acre Delhi farmhouse to a firm allegedly involved in market irregularities, at a rent of Rs 6.7 lakh per month.

"There have been so many corruption scams and scandals in his reign. He surely is a scamster -- Alibaba -- and these people are his chaalis chor. And yet they talk about how Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been faring in curbing corruption," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, while addressing the media in New Delhi, adding, "it's all but a farce. Alibaba aur chaalis chor machaaye chaukidaar ka shor [Alibaba and his thieves are making noise about Modi, to no avail]."

Patra further said the BJP had come to know there was indeed a lavish farmhouse in Delhi's Mehrauli in the name of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi -- that they had rented out on a hefty amount.

Earlier on Sunday, the BJP accused Congress of "threatening" investigation agencies following raids against people linked to Robert Vadra, Rahul Gandhi's brother-in-law, and asserted they would continue to act against those involved in corruption irrespective of their family background.

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain also alleged that it was a habit of the Congress party to indulge in corruption, deny it later and then use "abuses" if action is taken.

The Modi government, the BJP leader said, has given probe agencies a free hand to take action against people involved in corruption cases irrespective of their party and family affiliations.

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