For Cong, defence sector is only about brokering deals: PM Modi

TIRUPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday attacked the Congress, saying for the opposition party the defence sector was only about brokering deals.

Modi’s comments came after party president Rahul Gandhi recently upped the ante on the Rafale row by quoting a media report saying the PMO conducted “parallel” negotiations on the deal.

“From the seas to the skies, the Congress has several scams associated with the defence and in the process the party did not allow the modernisation of defence forces for long years that they were in power,” Modi said.

Addressing a party rally at Perumanallur about 13 km from here, he said the NDA’S work culture was different from that of the previous governments.

Targeting the Congress, he said “those who had got opportunity to rule the nation for years did not bother about India’s defence sector. For them this sector was only about brokering deals and helping their own set of friends.”

“The NDA’S approach to national security is different,” he said and outlined that it was the dream of his government that India be self-sufficient in defence production and where “our forces have all possible support they require in keeping our nation safe.”

He referred to the “pathbreaking” step of creating two defence corridors one of which is in Tamil Nadu.