Why we chose Anil Ambani: Dassault

NEW DELHI: Dassault picked Anil Ambani's debtridden firm as a partner in India, "because it was registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and had land in Nagpur which provided access to the runway," said top sources at the French firm, speaking to NDTV on the condition of anonymity. Dassault sources also told NDTV that they began engaging with Anil Ambani after the defence manufacturing company "changed hands" and was handed over by his older brother, Mukesh, to him. Also, the plans for the joint venture were firmed up at Aero India, the massive air show held in Bengaluru in 2015, just 2 months before the Rafale deal was announced by PM Modi in Paris. Dassault maintains that it began talks with Mukesh Ambani's firm in 2012 under the UPA dispensation, then

Firing a fresh salvo at the prime minister over the Rafale jet deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Monday charged that the country's "chowkidar" Narendra Modi snatched money away from the poor and handed it over to industrialist Anil Ambani.

Gandhi also asked the prime minister for answers on several issues relating to the Rafale jet fighter deal with France.

"The chowkidar of the country has taken out Rs 20,000 crore from the pockets of the poor, martyrs and the jawans and put it in the pocket of (Anil)Ambani," Gandhi said at a meeting in the Jais area of his Lok Sabha constituency. The Congress chief arrived here on a two-day visit, the first after his Kailash Mansarover pilgrimage, and said the people of the country want to know the amount involved in the Rafale deal.

"Why was the price not disclosed... how was the contract given to(Anil) Ambani... serious charges have been levelled by former French president Francois Hollande," he added.

Recalling that during a debate in Parliament on the Rafale deal, "The prime minister could not look me in the eye. PM gives speeches but no answers... he does not have the courage to give reply."

"Under the BJP government, the farmers and poor are crying...the present government is providing all benefits to a selected five to ten people," he said, alleging people like Anil Ambani, Vijay Mallya and Lalit Modi are getting all benefits.

The Reliance Group, in a statement quoting Ambani's letter to Gandhi last month, had said, "Allegations of Reliance benefitting by thousands of crores is a figment of imagination, promoted by vested interests."