Assam: Congress slams Modi government on Rafale deal

26 July 2018:

The Congress in Assam on Thursday pilloried the Narendra Modi-led government at the centre for alleged wrongdoing in the Rafale deal signed between India and France.

Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, Assam Congress chief and MP, Ripun Bora, said: “The BJP often talks about zero tolerance against corruption but the Narendra Modi government committed the biggest scam in the history of the country through Rafale deal. The Congress demands a CBI inquiry into the Rafale Deal. We will move a breach of privilege motion soon against the Prime Minister and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for misleading the Parliament on the issue of the fighter jets”.

Stating that the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is the only Indian company that has the experience in the production of fighter jets, Bora asked as to how the Modi government had signed a joint venture with the Reliance and Jio Group which has zero experience. He claimed the scam involved Rs.41,205 crore.

India had ordered 36 Rafale fighter jets at a value of about Rs.59,000 crore, which is considered to be the largest-ever offset contract in the history of the country. Raising the issue recently, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had demanded that the commercial cost of the deal be made public.