Raipur
Sharpening his attack on Modi government over the Rafale fighter jet deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that it was the country’s “biggest ever” defence scam.
Launching a direct attack on PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi claimed that the prime minister Modi was a “partner” in the corruption.
Speaking at a Congress event in Raipur, Rahul alleged that PM Modi has not yet spoken a word on the rape incidents in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan.
The Congress president said the situation related to the condition of women has not been as bad in the “last 3000 years” and “everybody is asking the BJP and the NDA where are ‘acche din’ (good days).”
The Congress leader said the promises made by Modi to farmers, youth and the poor people have remained unfulfilled. He also attacked the prime minister over the resignation of two journalists and alleged that “those who try and bring the truth out are stifled.”
Gandhi was addressing Congress workers after inaugurating the newly-constructed office of the party’s unit in the state which is slated to go to the polls later this year.
Raking up the issue of the Rafale jet deal with France, Gandhi alleged that it was the “biggest ever” corruption and “the ‘chowkidaar’ (watchman) has been a ‘bhagidaar’”.
He was obviously referring to Modi who has been saying that in his position as the prime minister he is the country’s ‘chowkidaar’.
India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in 2015 for procurement of 36 Rafale figher planes.
“The UPA government had readied the Rafale contract, according to which the price for each jet was approximately Rs 540 crore. The contract was ready and Modi ji only had to take a decision.
“But, Modi ji goes to France and scraps the previous contract and the Defence minister and other cabinet ministers do not know about it,” Gandhi said.
“Magically, the price of each Rafale jet shoots up from Rs 540 crore to Rs 1400 crore,” he added. He maintained that the secrecy pact with France did have any clause wherein the price of the jets could not be disclosed to the country.
The Congress leader claimed that the contract was earlier given to state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Modi handed it over to “his friend Anil Ambani”.
“The fun part is that the contract was given to Ambani ji, who has never made an aeroplane in his life nor has he ever taken a contract for defence,” Gandhi said.
“The company, which was given the contract, was in a debt of Rs 45,000 crore,” he claimed.
Ambani has already rejected Rahul Gandhi’s allegations and emphasised that the government had no role in the Rafale-manufacturer French company Dassault picking up his company as a local partner.