Rafale row: Rahul Gandhi mentions 'The Hindu' report during press brief, claims 'Defence Ministry objected to PM's Office role in Rafale deal'
In an major expose by the Hindu group and N.Ram, the report has claimed that the Defence Ministry had objected to the role of Prime Minister’s Office and a “parallel negotiation” was on in the defence deal of Rafale.
Accusing PM Modi of corruption and helping industrialist Anil Ambani, Rahul Gandhi has said that while PM Modi signed the auspicious Rafale jet deal, he overpriced 36 Rafale jets and changed the offset partner from HAL to Reliance Defence.
The note, which has been published by The Hindu today says that ‘it was brought to the attention of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar that the position taken by the PMO was contradictory to the stand taken by Defence Ministry and the negotiating team.”
Congress President Rahul Gandhi: PM Modi himself robbed Air Force's Rs 30,000 crore and gave it to Anil Ambani, we have been raising this since 1 year. Now a report has come where Defence Ministry officials say that PM was holding parallel negotiations with France Govt. #Rafale pic.twitter.com/76OPEVe3Vl
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2019
Congress President Rahul Gandhi: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman lied as well. Former French President has admitted that he was made to choose Anil Ambani by PM Modi himself pic.twitter.com/IU5aYZiysS
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2019
The note further added that “we may advise PMO that any Officers who are not part of Indian Negotiating Team may refrain from having parallel parlays [parleys] with the officers of French Government. It further says that "in case the PMO is not confident about the outcome of negotiations being carried out by the MoD, a revised modality of negotiations to be led by PMO at appropriate level may be adopted in the case.”
The Congress party tweeted this morning that “Congress President @RahulGandhi had a simple question for you in Parliament Modiji, you chickened out and didn't answer, did the defence ministry oppose your Rafale deal? Looks like we have the answer now.”
Rahul Gandhi has raised allegations stating, “PM Modi himself robbed Air Force's Rs 30,000 crore and gave it to Anil Ambani, we have been raising this since 1 year. Now a report has come where Defence Ministry officials say that PM was holding parallel negotiations with France Govt.”
“It (MoD dissent note on #Rafale negotiations) had nothing to do with price. It was about sovereign guarantees and general terms and conditions,” clarified G Mohan Kumar, Defence Secretary at the time of Rafale negotiations.
Also read: PM Modi attacks Congress in Parliament, says, 'for them BC is Before Congress & AD is After
First published: 8 February 2019, 11:19 IST