AgustaWestland controversy: Sonia Gandhi hits back at PM Modi, says 'India is my home, will breathe my last here'

New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks on AgustaWestland controversy and said that he cannot take away her love and commitment towards India. 

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi can't take away my love and commitment for my country, India. It is here that I will breathe my last and my ashes will mingle with my loved ones in India," she said. 

The Congress president who launched her party election campaign in poll-bound Kerala today, further hit at Modi regime by claiming that none of the BJP-ruled states has seen development under the present government. 

"I challenge him (PM Modi) to show at least one BJP ruled state that has a better health and educational achievement than Kerala," PTI quoted Sonia as saying. 

Slamming PM Modi's Sunday jibe regarding her Italy connections, Sonia said, "I also know PM Modi will never understand my integrity and him and RSS will always abuse me and stoop low to attack me. Yes, I was born in Italy and have a family there. I have a 93-year-old mother and I am not ashamed of it. I came to India in 1968 as the daughter-in-law of Indira Gandhi."

"I was born to proud and honest parents, I will never be ashamed of them. I have spent 48 years of my life in India, this is my home and this is my country. I cannot expect PM Modi to understand the feelings but I am sure you will," she said while addressing the rally at Trivandrum.

On Sunday, while addressing an election rally in Thiruvananthapuram, PM Modi had launched a blistering attack on Congress and Sonia over the AgustaWestland scandal and had demanded that the names of those who took kickbacks in the chopper deal be made public and the culprits punished.

“Everyone knows who has relatives in Italy,” PM Modi had said at Kerala rally, adding the Italian high court had released the names.

(With Agency inputs)