Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Aug 27: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not a chowkidar, but a bhagidar in the saga of Rafale deal,” said AICC national media panellist Jaiveer Shergill here on August 27.
Addressing media persons here on Monday, Jaiveer Shergill said, "BJP is in deep sleep after filling the stomachs of leaders with corruption. Modi is a master of slogans but complete failure in delivering. Modi promised to make corruption- free country but Rafale deal is one of the major corruption scams,”
“Rafale deal was not done as per law and procedure, but done as per desire and wish of Modi. BJP believes in television rather than vision. Why BJP is hesitating to disclose the price of Rafale? Because it is full of lies and Modi is working overtime to hide corruption,” he added.
"Rafale scam has resulted in Rs 41,205 crore loss of public money by buying Rs 526 crore worth of aircraft for Rs 1670 crore. As per international bid for 126 Rafale jets opened on December 12, 2012, during UPA government and Rs 526.10 crore was offered per aircraft. As many as 18 aircrafts were to come in flyway condition from France and 108 aircraft were to be made in India by public sector undertaking Hindustan Aeronautics Limited with transfer of technology. At this price 36 aircrafts would have cost Rs 18,940crore,” said Shergill.
He further said, "If congress asks price of Rafale jets, we are labelled as anti-national, but if BJP asks any price of any deal then it is called being nationalist. BJP claims that as per Indo- French agreement they should not disclose the price. But in reality there is no such clause in the agreement related to price. PM's words of ‘bhai beheno’ and ‘mithro’ cannot substitute the black letter written in the agreement,” said Shergill.
"Defence minister Nirmala Seetharaman was arrogant and rough with Karnataka minister during her visit to flood-hit Kodagu. But in the case of Rafale, she is a mute spectator. She would have shown same anger and arrogance in Rafale deal but she did not. She has changed the statement thrice of revealing the price of Rafale,” he said.
"Congress has demanded joint parliamentary investigation in this case. We do not want to rest until BJP reveals answers on Rafale deal. Congress is adamant in exposing Rafale scam," Shergill concluded.
Corporator A C Vinayaraj, Santhosh Kumar Shetty and others were present.