BJP intensifies attack on Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on Rafale deal, calls him 'irresponsible'
India | July 23, 2018 21:42 ISTIt also advised Rahul Gandhi to "do homework and improve understanding" of India's foreign policy and security issues.
It also advised Rahul Gandhi to "do homework and improve understanding" of India's foreign policy and security issues.
Accusing PM Modi and the Defence Minister for misleading the nation on the Rafale issue, former Defence Minister and senior Congress leader AK Antony said that the government's claim that a 'secrecy clause' in the deal was forcing it not to reveal the price details of the deal was 'totally wrong'.
Gandhi also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue, alleging he "squirms" when asked about the prices of the fighter aircraft.
Has Rahul Gandhi lied on Rafale deal in Parliament?
The minister said the India-France agreement to buy the fighter jets was signed in 2008 by the then defence minister A K Antony and it had the confidentiality clause.
"Let them deny it if they want. He(French President) said that before me.I was there, Anand Sharma and Dr.Manmohan Singh were also there," Rahul Gandhi said while reacting to French govt's reaction.
Addressing the Lok Sabha during his speech in the debate on the no-confidence motion against the NDA government, Gandhi said the French president had clearly conveyed to him that there was no problem in sharing details relating to the Rafale deal worth Rs 58,000 crore.
Sitharaman’s response came after Congress President Rahul Gandhi repeated his allegations of irregularities in the deal for purchasing 36 fighter jets from France and asked the government to disclose the exact amount paid for each fighter jet.
This agreement defines the common security regulations applicable to any exchange of classified and protected information between the two countries, the govt said.
In a tweet, Rahul lambasted Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for not disclosing the price for the fighter jets citing threat to national security.
Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre replied in the negative to both the questions. "No such proposal has been received," Bhamre said.
Government also denied that the old deal cost India $10.2 billion, stating that it was never finalised.
Sources said there was a communication from the French government recently indicating its eagerness in making an announcement by the two sides favouring additional procurement of Rafale jets for the Indian Air Force.
Nitin Gadkari said that it is ‘irresponsible and anti-national’ to allege corruption in the Euro 7.5 billion fighter aircraft contract with France.
Congress said the "high" price India had paid to France for the purchase of the fighter aircraft compared to prices paid by countries like Egypt and Qatar was not some "charity" and the Modi government should answer as to where the money had gone.
BJP spokesperson Anil Baluni said that the UPA dispensation never inked any deal for the fighter aircraft and sat on its file due to its "greed".
Sitharaman said she would welcome if the Congress raises the issue of procurement of Rafale jets when the budget session of the Parliament reconvenes from Monday.
The sources talked about Antony's intervention while asserting that there was no deal arrived at during the UPA regime to procure 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA).
Launching Congress' campaign at Hosapete in poll-bound Karnataka's Ballari district, Rahul Gandhi alleged that PM Modi had "personally" changed the Rafale contract during his visit to France.
BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said Gandhi was drawing a leaf from Hitler's propaganda driven by the "big lie technique" that a lie repeated a thousands times would be taken as truth with time.
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