Manohar Parrikar 'Clearly Stated' He Has Nothing To Do With New Rafale Deal 'Orchestrated' by PM Narendra Modi to Benefit Anil Ambani, Says Rahul Gandhi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who met Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday, has claimed that the former defence minister has said that he has nothing to do with the "new" Rafale deal signed by the Narendra Modi government with France.
Panaji, January 30: Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who met Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday, has claimed that the former defence minister has said that he has nothing to do with the "new" Rafale deal signed by the Narendra Modi government with France. "Friends, the ex-defence minister clearly stated that he has nothing to do with the new deal that was orchestrated by Mr Narendra Modi to benefit Anil Ambani," Gandhi told booth level party workers in Kochi, hours after his "courtesy" meeting with Parrikar. Manohar Parrikar Denied Involvement in New Rafale Deal Orchestrated by Narendra Modi, Says Rahul Gandhi.
Gandhi further attacked the Prime Minister over former French president Francois Hollande's statement last year, wherein he said that the Indian government gave Dassault Aviation no choice but to choose Reliance Aviation as the offset partner.
Gandhi paid a 'courtesy visit' to Parrikar at the CM Office in Goa Vidhan Sabha in Panaji on Tuesday. According to reports, in a 15-minute interaction with the Goa CM, Gandhi inquired about Parrikar's health and gave him best wishes for a speedy recovery. Rahul Gandhi Meets Manohar Parrikar in Goa Amid Rafale Deal Row.
Rahul Gandhi's meeting with Manohar Parrikar came days after his party accused the Goa CM of keeping Rafale files with him "in his bedroom". The Congress had earlier this month released a purported audio clip of Goa cabinet minister Vishwajit Rane, in which he was heard saying that Parrikar was holding Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to ransom over Rafale fighter jet deal with France.
Citing the audio, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had said that Manohar Parrikar had all documents related to the Rafale deal in his bedroom and was blackmailing the Modi government. Rane, on the other hand, had termed the audio clip "doctored" and had told BJP president Amit Shah to ask the state government to order an inquiry into the matter.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 30, 2019 10:07 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).