Rahul ramps up Rafale attack, says PM guilty

New Delhi, Feb. 8: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday demanded answers to questions raised by a media report that the PMO conducted parallel negotiations on the Rafale deal, saying it is now crystal clear that the “watchman” is the “thief ” as he ramped up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It is an open and shut case, Gandhi declared, citing a report in a newspaper claiming the defence ministry raised strong objections to “parallel discussions” conducted by the PMO during the negotiations over the `59,000 crore Rafale fighter jet deal between India and

France.

As the report drew fresh battlelines with the BJP and its ministers terming Gandhi’s allegations another “lie from his lie manufacturing factory” and opposition leaders speaking out against the deal, the Congress president brought in his brother-in-law Robert Vadra and senior leader P Chidambaram to make his point. “Whatever inquiry you want to do, you do it. You implement the law. Robert Vadra, P Chidambaram - you implement the law on everyone. No problem. But you also give answers on the Rafale matter,” he said at a press conference.

A day after Modi alleged that the Congress did not want the IAF to be strong, Gandhi said he wanted to address every member of the armed forces. “It is absolutely clear that the prime minister has stolen Rs 30,000 crore of your money, bypassed a process, and given it to his friend Mr. Anil Ambani,” he said.