Rafale row highlights: BJP calls Rahul shameless for 'treason' charge on PM
In the past few days, several media reports have kicked up a storm over aspects of the Rafale deal
 "Rahul Gandhi")
Rahul Gandhi at Tuesday's press conference.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday raised more issues related to the Rafale deal controversy at a press conference held at the Congress headquarters in Delhi.
Based on an Indian Express report, he alleged that Anil Ambani, whose company is an offset partner in the Rafale deal, had met French government officials 10 days ahead of PM Narendra Modi's visit to France in April 2015. He asked how a private individual could have known of a defence agreement in advance of the deal being signed, especially when even the defence minister of foreign secretary or Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) were not in the know.
The Congress President said there were three aspects of the Rafale deal in question — corruption, procedures, and a possible violation of the Offcial Secrets Act.
Gandhi also took a swipe at a CAG, calling it "chowkidar auditor general". Calling the CAG report on defence procurements, to be tabled in the Lok Sabha 'absolutely worthless', he said the report was "of the chowkidaar, for the chowkidaar, by the chowkidaar".
Earlier, the Congress party's communication incharge, Randeep Surjewala tweeted that the government stood exposed after this report.
The final nail in #RafaleScam!
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) February 12, 2019
Complicity, Collusion & Corruption of Chowkidar stands exposed!
Pl wait for Congress President’s Press Conference today at 11 AM at AICC HQ, 24, Akbar Road.https://t.co/VCB3F8cJbv
In the past few days, reports by The Hindu have kicked up a controversy over aspects of the Rafale deal. The Congress President had last Friday held a press conference after a report claimed that a former defence secretary had objected to the so-called 'parallel negotiations' on the Rafale deal being conducted by the Prime Minister's Office with French government officials.
On Monday, another report suggested that the government had waived certain anti-corruption clauses in the 7.87-billion-euro Rafale deal.
The Congress party has also accused Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Rajiv Mehrishi of committing 'gross impropriety' by auditing the Rafale deal as the finance secretary in April 2015, when the deal was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The CAG report was to be tabled in the Lok Sabha today but the revised order of business doesn't mention it.
4:49 PM
Rahul Gandhi has thrown muck at his own face: Prasad
Speaking to reporters soon after Gandhi's press conference, Prasad also took strong exception to the Congress leader charging Modi with "treason". The BJP leader said his party had serious differences with former prime ministers, who came from the Gandhi family, over several "murky" defence deals signed during their term but never accused them of treason. "He (Rahul Gandhi) has thrown muck at his own face by abusing our honest prime minister... We will expose his lies before the public," he said.
4:49 PM
Rahul Gandhi acting as 'lobbyist' of foreign firms: Prasad
Ravi Shankar Prasad asked Gandhi to answer how he got hold of the company's internal communication and accused him of acting as a "lobbyist" of foreign firms.
4:49 PM
Ravi Shankar Prasad puts Airbus in the dock
Senior party leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also put Airbus, whose internal e-mail was cited by the Congress president, in the dock, saying the European aircraft manufacturer is under a needle of suspicion in deals finalised during the previous Congress-led government.
4:49 PM
Rahul's charges against Modi height of shamelessness, irresponsibility: BJP
The BJP on Tuesday dismissed Rahul Gandhi's allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Rafale jet deal as the height of shamelessness and irresponsibility and asserted that the e-mail he cited to criticise the prime minister referred to some chopper deal and not the purchase of the fighter aircraft. (Read more here)
11:56 AM
CAG needs to take Rafale exposes into account: Rahul
There's so much evidence on Rafale in the public domain that the CAG must take those into account, says Rahul Gandhi.
11:54 AM
An industrialist knows about a defence deal even the defence minister is unaware
How does industrialist Anil Ambani get to know the details of a defence deal about which neither the defence minister knows, nor does the foreign secretary, nor HAl, asks Rahul Gandhi.
11:52 AM
Rahul lists three ways why the Rafale deal is in question
The fact that MoU is being prepared is a Defence secret. There are three aspects here: 1) Corruption 2) Procedural aspect, and 3) Possible violation of Offcial Secrets Act
11:49 AM
Rahul calls CAG 'Chowkidar Auditor General', labels its report worthless
Calling the CAG report on the Rafale deal absolutely woirthless, Rahul Gandhi says the report is "of the Chowkidaar, by the Chowkidaar, for the Chowkidaar". The report won't feature the absolute price of the Rafale aircraft, says the Congress president.
11:47 AM
PM Modi might have breached Official Secrets Act: Rahul
If Modi revealed to Anil Ambani the details of deals beforehand, he would be in violation of the Official Secrets Act, says Rahul Gandhi
11:46 AM
Anil Ambani met French officials before Modi visit: Rahul
Rahul Gandhi says Anil Ambani met French officials two weeks before PM Modi's visit.
11:42 AM
Rahul Gandhi starts speaking at press conference
11:09 AM
Press conference to commence shorty
10:59 AM
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First Published: Feb 12 2019 | 10:50 AM IST
