Opposition attacks Modi govt over Rafale deal, other issues

The Congress on Wednesday dubbed as “disappointing” Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech in the Lok Sabha.

The main opposition party, whose MPs walked out of the House over Modi’s reply to the debate on the motion of thanks to the president for his address to the joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament, said it did not address the issues raised by lawmakers, including that on the Rafale deal.

Hitting out at Modi for his “don’t give BJP sermons on democracy” remark directed at his party, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the prime minister himself does not respect democracy. He said people like Modi “speak something and do something else”.

Responding to the prime minister’s accusation that the Congress bifurcated Andhra Pradesh because of “political considerations”, Kharge said Modi did not keep his word on doing justice to Telangana and giving an economic package to the residual Andhra Pradesh after the NDA came to power.

Speaking to journalists outside Parliament, the Congress leader assailed Modi for not touching upon the issues of giving minimum sup- port price (MSP) to farmers and doubling their income by 2022.

“The prime minister did not say anything new in his speech. He also did not mention anything new in the interest of the country. He also did not give satisfactory reply to issues we raised,” Kharge said.

“This was his political speech, election speech… We are disappointed by the speech. He backtracked from fulfilling our demands. Hence, we staged walkout,” he added.

Opposition in the Rajya Sabha mounted a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government charging it with undermining democracy and painting a “rosy” picture when ground reality was totally different, with Congress alleging a big scam in the Rafale aircraft deal.

Speakers from these parties also charged the government with being “intolerant” and “full of arrogance”.

Participating in the debate on the motion of thanks for the president’s address, Congress deputy leader Anand Sharma alleged there was a big scam in the Rafale deal as the price at which the planes were negotiated were four times higher and benefitted private firms.

Without taking into confidence the Defence Minister and the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), Prime Minister Narendra Modi had clinched the deal during his visit to France in 2015, he alleged and noted that even state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) was not consulted on the matter.

Sharma said the Modi government scrapped the 2005 deal signed during the UPA regime for purchase of 126 jets at a rate of Rs 526 crore each and inked a fresh pact in 2015 to purchase 36 jets at a much higher rate of Rs 15,070 crore each.

The price at which India is planning to buy is four times higher than the earlier price, while Qatar has purchased 12 jets a at price of Rs 694 crore each, he claimed.

Accusing the government of not being “transparent” about the deal, Sharma said it is a “big scam” and compromised national security because neither the country’s Defence Minister or the CCS nod was taken on the matter.

As per the earlier deal, 108 jets were to be manufactured by HAL, but in the new deal the contract has been given to a private entity. The HAL has been by-passed for Rs 38,000 crore worth offset contract in favour of a private entity, he said.

Hitting back at BJP President Amit Shah who had said that Congress left nothing in heritage to the current government, Sharma highlighted steps taken by former Prime Ministers Jawarharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh. “The country has so many achievements. You say nothing has been done. This is showing disrespect to history and leaders,” he said.

Refuting the charges against Congress of the dynasty rule, Sharma said four generations of leaders have fought for the country and sacrificed their lives. “We are proud of their sacrifice. Entire country feels proud but you may not.”