Modi government squandered national interest in Rafale deal: Congress


New Delhi, Nov 16 (IANS): The Congress on Friday questioned the Modi government's "silence" on the "fresh evidence" in the Rafale "scam" and said it is a precursor "of the storm which they are about to face."

The party also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "squandering national interest" in the deal to purchase 36 fighter jets from France.

"Today another undisputable evidence has come to the fore, which establishes the deliberately hiked commercial cost of the 36 Rafale aircraft deal signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2015. The silence of Modi Government on the new skeletons that have tumbled out of the Rafale scam cupboard is a precursor to a massive storm," Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera told the media here.

He said Modi cannot escape from "his moral, political, legal and constitutional responsibility and accountability in the biggest defence scam of India."

"For truth to prevail, the only route is through a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe," he said.

Khera said the "management meet note" of ICICI bank of February 28, 2017 again exposes the commercial cost of Rafale deal as well as again seals the cost of offset contract and life cycle cost contract.

"This is the sixth proof in public domain which testifies, that the per aircraft cost in Modi's deal is Rs 1,670 crore and that, flouting all norms, the Modi government handed over a Rs 30,000-crore offset contract," Khera said.

Referring to management meet note, he said it states that Reliance Defence has already formed a joint venture with French major Dassault for execution of offset obligations, as a part of the 36 Rafale fighter jet purchase valued at Rs 59,000 crore.

"The offset obligation in this contract is pegged at 50 per cent of the total cost, i.e. Rs 29500 crore. The management has pegged this opportunity from the Rafale programme at Rs 105,000 crore. Dassault Reliance JV will provide performance-based logistics for 50 years (scope includes maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrades). If awarded, it is also expected to execute additional orders of Rafale fighter aircraft for Indian armed forces under the Make in India programme," he said reading from the note.

Khera said the annual report 2016 of Dassault Aviation had revealed the cost of per aircraft and offset obligations by Reliance Defence.

He referred to some other documents and alleged that a former Finance Minister official had "spilled the beans indicting the Modi government for corrupt practices in fixing a higher benchmark price."

"Now a third party document has reiterated the same figures of the commercial cost of the 36 Rafale deal," Khera said.

"What is stopping the Modi government from revealing the commercial cost of the Rafale Deal as well as the details of offset obligations?" he asked.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Vishal, Mangalore

    Sat, Nov 17 2018

    Let there be a probe and the truth will come out. If you have nothing to hide and have done no wrong, what is preventing you from agreeing to a probe? I don't want to take sides but I want to know the truth behind all this. This is not a small matter - the whole world is looking at India. The elections are approaching and before we cast our vote, we must be sure about the person we are going to elect. There are fingers raised at Modi and before even we relect him we want to know what has really happened. We can't blindly give him another term or we can't just write him off. So in the interest of the future of our nation and in his own interest, let him agree to a probe. What's the problem? We will know who is right and who is wrong. If Rahul is wrong he should be banished and if Modi is wrong, he should go to jail. As simple as that. Nobody should be allowed to play with the sentiments of the people or the trust we repose in him or her. We are the one to decide who is going to lead us in the future, so we are entitled to know the truth.

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sat, Nov 17 2018

    The Irony of India is One Party seeks votes in the name of Sita's Husband & works for Nita's Husband ...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Deepak, Mang

    Fri, Nov 16 2018

    Idiots don't even know what is scam. Look at your own history then blame others. All slaves just dance to the tunes of Pappu who don't know what he is saying. Dombarata party of this century

    DisAgree [6] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sahil, Mangaluru

    Fri, Nov 16 2018

    More than your statement we should trust SC decision first.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Swamy, Mangalore

    Fri, Nov 16 2018

    If you don't shout 'Bharath Matha Ki Jai' or 'Vande Mataram' it's all right but if you squander national interest then it's a grave violation and betrayal of trust especially coming from PM. Modi should be sent to jail of his choice without trial Parappana or Tihar.

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse


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