Congress alleges Narendra Modi evasive on Rafale deal

Chittoor: AICC general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh Oommen Chandy said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had failed to answer questions raised by Congress president Rahul Gandhi during the discussion on no-confidence motion on the Rafale fighter gets deal with a French company.

He alleged that Modi had apparently played a role of broker in the deal and got Rs 41,000 crore from Reliance Group, the local partner of Dassault of France, for party’s election funds.

Speaking at a press conference at the government guesthouse here on Thursday, Chandy levelled serious allegations against Modi and defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman narrating the alleged anomalies in the deal. “AICC president Rahul Gandhi levelled serious allegations against the Modi government in respect of the jet fighter deal. Both Prime Minister and defence minister have failed to answer the doubts over the pact.

The nation is very serious to know the facts of the defence deal,” he demanded. Chandy alleged undermining the high reputation of HAL, the BJP government entered into the agreement with a company of low expertise (Reliance Group) for purchasing 36 jet fighters in which a huge scam to the tune of Rs 41,000 crore took place.

He pointed out that the NDA government finalised the plan within 48 hours with the intervention of Prime Minister. The Congress leader alleged that the BJP government was put at stake the national security for its monetary and political benefits by not obtaining the approval from the Cabinet. On the prospects of Congress in Andhra Pradesh, Oommen Chandy declared that the party would field its candidates in all the 175 Assembly seats in the next elections.