‘Rafale deal biggest example of crony capitalism by govt’
NEW DELHI: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday took a fresh jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale deal, alleging that the joint venture of “Mr 56’s friend” received “USD 20 billion actual benefits” through offset contracts in the deal.
Earlier on Friday, calling the multi-crore Rafale jet deal “the biggest example of crony capitalism”, the Congress alleged the Modi government has “compromised national interest” by helping a private entity to the tune of crores of rupees in violation of rules.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must give answers to the nation on the deal and his party wants him to speak on this issue in Parliament during the current monsoon session.
He alleged that the Modi government is “deceiving” the country by not giving answers about the award of the contract to a private player in this “mother of all defence deals”.
The government has been rejecting all allegations about the Rafale deal. The Congress leader told reporters that shocking revelations have brought out lies of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman about the award of Rs 30,000 crore ‘defence offset contract’ to Reliance Defence as part of this deal.
“The culture of crony capitalism is the DNA of the Modi government. It is truer than ever in case of the Rs 60,145 crore Rafale deal,” he said.
“The art of deceiving India is the Modi government’s mantra in this mother of all defence deals. Intrigue, conspiracy, deception and loss to public exchequer have marred the unilateral purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft by the government,” Surjewala said. “Rs 1,30,000 crore lies is being peddled by Modi government. Reliance Defence has claimed to have secured the offset contract from Dassault Aviation (maker of Rafale jets) for Rs 30,000 crore and a consequent ‘lifecycle cost contract’ of Rs 1 lakh crore,” he said.
The Congress leader said even Dassault Aviation in its annual report for 2016-17 has claimed that offset contract is being executed by Reliance, while the defence minister has declared that Dassault Aviation has not awarded the offset contract.
The BJP on Friday dismissed the Congress’ fresh attack on the Modi government over the Rafale deal, saying it is repeating same claims in frustration after its allegations were “proved” wrong by Union ministers and also the French government.
NEW DELHI: The BJP on Friday dismissed the Congress' fresh attack on the Modi government over the Rafale deal, saying it is repeating same claims in frustration after its allegations were “proved” wrong by Union ministers and also the French government.
BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi also took potshots at the Congress over its attempt to build an alliance against the ruling bloc, saying its president Rahul Gandhi first claimed to be prime ministerial candidate and is now willing to support any candidate for the negative agenda of defeating Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The BJP wants a ‘majboot' (strong) government under Modi while opposition parties like Mayawati-led BSP want a ‘majboor' (helpless) government, he told reporters.
Hitting out at the Congress over the Rafale fighter aircraft deal, he said it never allowed defence production in India so that it could strike “deals” with foreign suppliers and now levelling baseless allegations after the Modi government has worked to start domestic production.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad have given point-by-point rebuttal to the Congress' allegations, he said.
Trivedi also claimed that the BJP never levelled allegations against defence deals, saying it was members of Congress government or foreign countries which first alleged corruption in cases like Bofors deal or Agustawestland chopper purchase.
Those levelling allegation should first hear defence experts and refrain from politicising such deals, he said.
Taking a dig at Gandhi, he said the country saw his “entertainment” in Parliament, which was “full of action with childish behaviour in accordance with his political maturity”.
People want a mature, talented and capable leader, he said.
What they (opposition) are doing is “betrayal” to the country as their single point agenda is removing Modi.
All Congress prime ministers were recognised as leaders only after they occupied the top post while the BJP gave prime ministers after the masses accepted them as their leaders, he claimed.
Asked about the BJP ally Lok Janshakti Party escalating pressure on the government over Dalit issues, he said the government is sensitive to concerns of its allies and has been working to address them.
To a question about demand of removal NGT chair A K Goel, he said the government would have taken a decision after considering all aspects but it is sensitive to alliance's concerns.
Earlier, the Congress accused the government of “deceiving” the country and promoting crony capitalism in awarding a private entity the contract for the multi-crore Rafale aircraft deal, which it described as the “mother of all deals”.
Modi must give answers to the nation, the party's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.