New Delhi, Sept 21 (UNI) After a startling revelation by former French President Francois Hollande on the controversial Rafale jet deal, the Congress party on Friday came out with sharp criticism on Narendra Modi government and said, “its white lies exposed” and "It's hard to deny the truth. You've been scammed”.
In a series of tweets, Congress party and its spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said Modi government’s conspiracy in denying the Public Sector company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Mr Modi’s friend benefiting, has been revealed.
“Cat’s out of the Bag! Complicity, Collusion and Conspiracy of Modi Govt in denying the PSU, HAL a Rs 30,000 Crore ‘offset contract’ to benefit PM’s crony friend exposed”, Mr Surjewala tweeted.
In another tweet he said, now it’s has been proved that the ‘Chowkidar’ is not only a partner in it, but also a real culprit.
“Chowkidar, sirf bhagidaar nahien, asli gunhgaar hein”, said Mr Surjewala.
In a major twist in the 59,000 crore Rafale jet deal with the French aircraft manufacturer Dassault, Mr Hollande reportedly said that the French government had no role in selecting the offset partner (Anil Ambani) and said the Indian government had proposed Mr Ambani’s firm for the Rafale deal.
“We did not have a say in this. The Indian government proposed this group, and Dassault negotiated with Ambani. We did not have a choice, we took the interlocutor who was given to us”, Mr Hollande told French publication Mediapart.
He also clarified he had no knowledge that Mr Ambani’s firm was investing money in his partner Jalie Gayet’s film project.
“I could not even imagine that there was any connection to a film by Julie Gayet”, he said.
The memorandum of understanding for Rafale deal was signed in 2016 during Mr Hoallande’s visit to Delhi to attend Republic Day celebrations.
A section of media reported that Anil Ambani’s firm Reliance Entertainment had signed an agreement with Ms Gayet to produce a film just two days before Mr Hollande’s visit to India.
According to the deal, the French arm Dassault will deliver 36 aircraft to India, at a whopping cost of Rs 59,000 crore.
However, Congress party particularly its president Rahul Gandhi continuously alleged corruption in the deal and accusing that Modi government is giving overprice for aircraft, much higher than the UPA government had negotiated for 108 Rafale jet.
The Union government had denied the allegations and had said that it did not intervene in the selection process of offset partner, Ambani firm.
“No offset contracts have been signed so far. If two private firms come together, that doesn’t require permission from the ministry”, said Defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman in June.
Meanwhile the Defence Ministry on Friday said that the government is verifying Mr Hollande's claim.
In a tweet, the defence ministry spokesperson said, “The report referring to fmr French president Mr. Hollande's statement that GOI insisted upon a particular firm as offset partner for the Dassault Aviation in Rafale deal is being verified. It is reiterated that neither GoI nor French Govt had any say in the commercial decision.”
However the Congress party said that Mr Hollande exposes the web of lies spun by the Modi Government.
“The Modi Government compelled Dassault to tie up with the Reliance”, it said.
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