Ahead of govt reply in Parl\, Cong launches fresh attack on Rafale

Ahead of govt reply in Parl, Cong launches fresh attack on Rafale

Press Trust of India  |  New Delhi 

Launching a fresh offensive on the Rafale deal, the on Friday accused Modi of brushing aside objections raised by the Defence and the Law ministries, causing losses to the exchequer and compromising national security.

Addressing the media outside Parliament, the leaders cited objections raised by the Defence and Law ministries and demanded that the and disclose full facts before Parliament and a JPC.

"Will the and now disclose the full facts to Parliament. Only a JPC can investigate the Rafale scam," Azad told reporters ahead of the government's reply in Parliament.

Accusing the government of running away from a JPC probe, Kharge said only a JPC could bring out the truth after summoning the files related to the deal.

"Modiji is continuing to lie as are his counsels, be it Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj or the (Nirmala Sitharaman)," Kharge said, declaring that they are behaving like "yes ministers".

The government has strenuously denied the Congress' allegations of corruption in the deal and claimed the contract negotiated by it was cheaper than the UPA deal.

The leaders also issued a statement, alleging "dirty secrets, corruption and malfeasance" are tumbling out of the Rafale files, copies of which are also lying in the bedroom of and former defence minister

Fresh revelations further "expose the brazen corrupt practices" in the Rafale deal, it said.

"The entire spectrum of deception lies at the doorstep of Prime Minister Modi, who overruled the objections raised and recorded by raised by the negotiations team' in Rafale deal.

"Shocking and stunning revelations expose a concerted conspiracy to cause loss to public exchequer, besides compromising national security. These were all approved by none less than the PM Modi in the (CCS)," the leaders said in the joint statement.

Surjewala said the prime minister should reveal what files are lying in Parrikar's bedroom.

"It is clear that the Rafale deal negotiating team raised several questions on the file but Modiji as of the CCS threw them in the dustbin and caused a loss to the state exchequer," he told reporters.

Citing objections raised by the negotiating team and recorded in the Rafale files, the Congress leaders alleged that Modi raised the benchmark price of the jet deal. The government also waived the "advance and and sovereign guarantee", they said.

According to the objections, Modi paid a higher price for Rafales for compared to and and compromised India's national security and India's interests by ignoring the discount offered by Eurofighter, they said.

"Objections on the file read 'As per the prices reflected in Dassault's financial results, it has sold Rafale at a cheaper rate to and as compared to India'.

"With the looming threat of and Pakistan, does it not compromise India's National Security?

"Why did Prime Minister in CCS increase the original Benchmark Price' from Euro 5.2 Billion (Rs 39,422 Crore) to Euro 8.2 Billion (Rs 62,166 Crore). Who is responsible for this loss of exchequer," the Congress leaders asked in the statement.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Fri, January 04 2019. 12:50 IST