Much more to come in Rafale, says Rahul

| | New Delhi
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Much more to come in Rafale, says Rahul

Wednesday, 26 September 2018 | PNS | New Delhi

Much more to come in Rafale, says Rahul

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday continued to attack the Modi Government on the controversial Rafale deal and asserted that more facts on the “dubious” deal should be expected in the coming days. “This is the beginning, there will be more fun ahead,” Rahul said, addressing the media at his Lok Sabha constituency Amethi.

The Congress has been attacking the Modi Government over an offset agreement signed by Rafale manufacturer Dassault with Anil Ambani’s Reliance Group. Rahul, through social media Twitter handle, also stated that he understands the pain of jawans, Air Force officers, the families of martyred pilots as well as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) workers, and will work to bring to justice all those who dishonoured them.

“To every Air Force officer and jawan who has served India. To the family of every martyred Indian fighter pilot. To every person whoever worked for HAL. We hear your pain. We understand how you feel. We will bring to justice all those who dishonoured and stole from you,” he said on Twitter.

Reminding his constituents that an HAL unit was located in Amethi district, Rahul reiterated the charge that an offset deal wrongly went to Anil Ambani’s Reliance group instead of the public sector HAL. “The youth should understand that employment opportunities have been snatched from HAL and from you all. The truth will be before you and you can judge,” he said.

“The youth should pay attention. Anil Ambani has not made an aircraft all his life. He floats a company just 10 days before and gets the contract,” Rahul claimed.

“Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister and the Rs 526-crore aircraft is bought for Rs 1,600 crore,” he claimed. Rahul also recalled the recent row over former French President Francois Hollande’s reported claim that the Indian side insisted that Dassault pick the Ambanis as their local partner.

The Congress also rejected BJP’s claim that Rahul wanted the Rafale deal scrapped to help a firm linked to his brother-in-law Robert Vadra and said the Modi Government was responding to the alleged “scam” with abuses and mud-slinging.

The BJP has alleged the Congress president is involved in a “conspiracy, internationally” and former French President Francois Hollande was part of the “nexus” to sabotage the Rafale deal.

Union Minister Gajendra Shekhawat had dragged the Gandhi family into the intensifying political row over the fighter aircraft deal, alleging that the UPA Government had called off the multi-billion dollar deal after a private company linked to Vadra was not chosen as a broker.

Responding to the claims, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Congress Government gave the contract to State-run firm HAL and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave it to Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence.

“The tender was issued in 2007 August, and on December 12, 2012, it was opened...And in March 13, 2014, the Congress Government gave the offset contract to State-run HAL,” Surjewala told reporters. He cited the statements made by Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier and former HAL chairperson TS Raju.

Hitting out at Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and the Modi Government, Surjewala said they were responding to the Rafale “scam” with abuses and mud-slinging. “The country has heard the tale of Ali Baba aur Chaalis Chor, now it is asking that when will Modi Baba and Chaalis Chor answer,” Surjewala said. “Are you Ambani’s PM, or the country’s Prime Minister?” he asked.

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