The Congress and the BJP have continued to exchange barbs over the Rafale aircraft deal with Rahul Gandhi accusing the prime minister of allegedly changing the “entire deal” to benefit a businessman, a charge debunked by the ruling party.
The Congress vice president also asked why no questions were put to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on BJP president Amit Shah’s son Jay, whose company his party alleged has witnessed a quantum jump in turnover since the Modi government came to power, reported PTI.
“You ask me so many questions and I answer all of them. I want to ask you, why don’t you question Prime Minister Modi on the Rafale deal. Why don’t you ask about Amit Shah’s son? Why don’t you question the prime minister who changed the entire Rafale deal to help a businessman?” he reportedly asked.
Gandhi was quoted as saying that the prime minister should explain the “Reliance” on someone with nil experience in aerospace for the Rafale deal.
“Self ‘Reliance’ is obviously a critical aspect of ‘Make in India’,” Gandhi added in a series of tweets on the Reliance Rafale deal.
Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, meanwhile, said the Congress is reminded of its rule when it rakes up such an issue.
“They are finding it difficult to accept that there has been no case of corruption in the three-year rule of the Narendra Modi government,” Prasad, who was briefing reporters on cabinet decisions, reportedly said when asked about allegations levelled by Gandhi.
The Rafale deal was the focus of debate earlier this week as well when the Congress accused the government of compromising national interest and security while promoting “crony capitalism” and causing a loss to the public exchequer, reported PTI.
Congress’ communications department head Randeep Surjewala alleged that the government neglected the interests of public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the report said.
He also alleged that Dassault Aviation, the French manufacturer of Rafale aircraft, refused to transfer technology to it and instead entered into an agreement with Reliance Defence.
The BJP dismissed the allegation, claiming it was intended to “divert attention” as party bigwigs faced the prospect of being questioned in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scandal.
In a statement, Reliance Defence Limited dubbed the Congress’ allegations as “baseless and unfounded”.
It reportedly said its subsidiary formed a joint venture, Dassault Reliance Aerospace, after a bilateral agreement between two private companies and “the Indian government has no role to play in this”.
The company was quoted as saying government policy of June 24, 2016 allows for 49 per cent FDI in the defence sector under the automatic route without any prior approval.
Surjewala had also said that the aircraft was being purchased at much higher rates than what was decided after the completion of the tender process under the previous UPA government.