Lucknow, April 14 -- Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya lashed out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday, saying that the people of the country must choose between a leader who gives a befitting reply to the enemy and a leader who winks in Parliament.

He was speaking to media persons at the Bharatiya Janata Party state office in Lucknow on Saturday.

Maurya said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi worked for 18 hours every day and had not taken a single leave in the last five years. "He needs your support to further develop the nation," he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister also launched a scathing attack on opposition parties. Referring to them by their party symbols, Maurya said, "Demonetisation and lack of vote infuriated t...