Charge PM Modi For Corruption: Congress Sharpens Rafale Attack

Surjewala said that the deal was struck by NSA Ajit Doval in France in January 2016 by surpassing the INT.

File photo of Randeep Singh Surjewala.

(Photo: IANS)

Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam
Video Producer: Furqan Faridi

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, 6 March, senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of the Rafale deal and said the prime minister bypassed the Indian Negotiating Team (INT) and struck the deal with France in 2016.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court began hearing the petitions seeking a review of its judgment on the government’s purchase of 36 Rafale jets from Dassault Aviation.

Catch all the live updates here.

8 POINTS FROM RANDEEP SURJEWALA’S PRESS CONFERENCE

1. Randeep Surjewala said the Modi government procured the Rafale jets at a price higher than what was negotiated by the UPA government for 126 Rafale jets.
2. Surjewala said that the government’s claim of buying the 36 aircraft at Rs 59,000 crore is wrong and the INT has put the figure at Rs 64,000 crore, he claimed, accusing the government of misleading Parliament.
3. He further attacked Modi over the Rafale aircraft deal, alleging that he misused his office to “benefit” Dassault Aviation and that a case under the prevention of corruption law is made out against him.
4. He further said that that government waived the bank guarantee despite the Defence Ministry, the Ministry of Law and Justice and the INT asking for it.
5. Surjewala also held the PMO responsible for carrying out “parallel” negotiations with the French side.
6. He alleged that NSA Ajit Doval finalised the negotiation and sidelined the INT at the behest of the prime minister's office.
7. Surjewala questioned Doval’s involvement in the Rafale deal and asked why was he negotiating when he wasn’t a part of the INT.
8. Surjewala once again accused the prime minister of looting the country.

Earlier in the day, a report in The Hindu had mentioned that the INT report submitted to the Defence Ministry in 2016 revealed that the Rafale deal struck by the NDA government was more expensive due to no bank guarantee by the French side.

The government has time and again rejected the Congress’ charge of corruption in the deal with the ruling BJP accusing the party of spreading lies to target it.