Rafale Deal Debate in Lok Sabha: Rahul Gandhi, Arun Jaitley Trade Heated Barbs; Shiv Sena, CPM, TMC Target Centre – Highlights
Opposition's demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe was rejected by the government, citing the recent clean chit issued by the Supreme Court.
New Delhi, January, 2: The Lower House of Indian Parliament on Wednesday debated the questions raised by the Opposition on the Rafale fighter jets deal. The Treasury bench was primarily being defended by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, whereas, Congress president Rahul Gandhi led the Opposition's charge.
The Gandhi scion, while raising a spree of questions against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's role in the alleged irregularities of Rafale deal, demanded the government to sanction a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe. The Centre, however, rejected the plea citing the recent clean chit issued by the Supreme Court. Here are the highlights of the Rafale deal debate:
PM Modi Has No Guts to Face Questions on Rafale: Rahul Gandhi
The Congress chief questioned the absence of the Prime Minister when the Parliament decided to debate one of the most pressing political issue.
"He (Modi) spoke for 90 minutes in a staged interview but still did not answer questions on the Rafale issue," Gandhi said, reiterating his party's demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the matter.
"We demand a JPC probe into matter. There is no reason for BJP leaders to feel afraid. The country will get to know that Modi put Rs 30,000 crore in the pockets of 'double A'," he said.
'Double A' was an apparent reference to industrialist Anil Ambani, whom Gandhi repeatedly referred to in his speech before Speaker Sumitra Mahajan asked him not to name him as he is not a member of the House.
'This Man (Rahul) Lies 5 Times a Day': Arun Jaitley
Jaitley, who stood up immediately to counter charges levelled by Gandhi, accused him of spreading "false and fabricated" information in the House.
He said there was no point in accepting demand for a JPC by a party which is already embroiled in Bofors corruption case.
The Finance Minister noted that the price of 'bare aircraft' has been revealed and that the price of 'weaponised' version cannot be told as it would help India's adversaries.
He also asserted that the bare aircraft was nine per cent cheaper than the one negotiated by the UPA and the weaponised version was 20 per cent cheaper.
Shiv Sena, CPM, TMC and BJD Train Guns at Centre
"Qatar bought these aircraft at a much cheaper price, propriety and procedure questions still exist, and we have a right to ask questions," said BJD MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, adding that Jaitly "cherry-picked facts" to suit NDA's narrative.
CPI(M) MP Mohammad Salim said the government rejigged the UPA era contract to "benefit one industrialist". "From the era of Jawaharlal Nehru, our focus has been on self-reliance. But this government has segregated 'self' and 'Reliance'," he further quipped, in an apparent reference to Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence Ltd which was chosen as offset partner by Dassault Aviation.
Shiv Sena, which is part of the ruling NDA coalition, also raised questions on the Rafale deal. "Why was a company which existed only on paper chosen as the offset partner? On the other hand, HAL (state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) was not given the offset contract. If the government has nothing to fear, why it is not allowing a JPC probe," questioned Arvind Sawant.
TMC MP Saugata Roy was also adamant on a JPC probe, asking the government to let the "truth emerge" if there is no foul play. He also questioned the silence of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the debate, saying the BJP "has to borrow" its leader from Rajya Sabha (Jaitley) to defend the charges being raked by members of the Lower House.
(With PTI inputs)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 02, 2019 05:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).