Shameful that Nirmala’s boss silencing her: RaGa

The duel between the Narendra Modi Government and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on the multi-crore Rafale fighter aircraft deal raged again on Saturday with the latter hitting back at Defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman claiming that it was "shameful" that her boss was “silencing” her.

Sitaraman  had on Friday described the Congress allegations surrounding the procurement deal for 36 Rafale deal as “shameful”, insisting that the fighter plane deal was finalised following a transparent procedure. Her comments had come a day after Rahul  accused Prime Minister Modi of having changed the entire Rafale fighter plane deal "to help a businessman".

Congress vice-president on Saturday returned the fire at Defence Minister claiming it was "shameful" that her boss was "silencing" her. Rahul also asked her whether PM Modi had taken permission from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) before announcing the purchase of the Rafale fighter aircraft in Paris.  The Congress had accused the government of compromising national interest and security while promoting "crony capitalism" and causing a loss to the public exchequer.

"Dear DM, what's shameful is your boss silencing you. Please tell us:

1. Final price of each Rafale jet?

2. Did PM take CCS permission before announcing purchase in Paris?

3. Why PM bypassed experienced HAL and gave the deal to AA rated businessman with no defence experience?" Rahul  tweeted.

While the Congress was alleging that a scam was brewing in the deal, the BJP claimed that the renegotiated deal was transparent and better than the deal negotiated by the previous UPA Government.

Describing the controversy  over the Rafale deal as "disservice" to the armed forces,  Sitaraman had cited the urgent requirement of the Indian Air Force as the main reason for sealing the deal.

Dismissing  the allegations, the defence minister had said the final agreement for 36 Rafale jets was signed in September, 2016, after five rounds of lengthy discussions between Indian and French sides and approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security. She also accused the UPA Government of sitting over the proposed procurement of jets for 10 years.