Rahul Gandhi Poses Questions on Rafale Deal to PM Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha, Speaker Turns Down Permission to Play Goa Minister Audio Clip

New Delhi, January 2: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government on Rafale deal in the Winter Session of Parliament. He asked questions related with the Rafale deal and dared PM Modi to answers to those. Issues related with the number of aircraft to pricing were raised by the Congress president, who was asked to authenticate the allegation charged on the BJP-led Central government, but denied permission to play Goa minister Viswajit Rane's audio clip.

Asking his first question in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi stated that though Rafale aircraft was chosen eight years ago, why not a single aircraft landed on Indian soil till now. He asked, “The Rafale aircraft was chosen after eight years of work of the air force... They wanted 126 aircraft. The question is - who changed the requirement of airforce from 126 to 36? Did the airforce request the government?” Goa CM Manohar Parrikar Has Rafale Files 'In His Bedroom', Is Blackmailing Centre, Claims Congress; Audio Clip Released by Party.

Raising his second question, he pointed towards the pricing of the aircraft, which increased by almost three folds from UPA to BJP tenure. Gandhi asked, “Why did the price go from Rs 526 crores to Rs 1600 crore?” He also asked why was the contract given to Anil Ambani. The Congress chief said, “Why did you give this contract to your dear friend Mr Anil Ambani? Why did you take this contract away from HAL?”

Pointing out toward the requirements of the Indian Air Force’s requirements, he asked, “Who changed the requirement of the Indian Air Force? Why is it that not a single aircraft has landed in India to date?”

Gandhi dared the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to answer the questions to the nation. He also asked for a JPC and said, “ The Supreme Court only said that inquiry into Rafale is not under their jurisdiction; they didn't say that JPC or parliamentary committee can't be set up.”

Earlier on Wednesday, the Congress released a purported audio clip of Goa cabinet minister Viswajit Rane, in which he says chief minister Manohar Parrikar is holding the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the government to ransom over Rafale fighter jet deal with France. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala claimed that Parrikar has all documents related to the Rafale deal in his bedroom and is blackmailing the Modi government.

Addressing the media, Surjewala made listened to the audio clip in which Rane allegedly had said, “During the cabinet meeting, Manohar Parrikar made an interesting statement. He said he has all files related to Rafale deal in his bedroom....This means he is holding them to ransom.”

Soon after the audio clip ended, Surejewala stated, “The audio reveals that files are hidden in the bedroom of Parrikar. Why are those files being hidden? These revelations on Rafale scam are stated by none other than a BJP MLA.”

He added, “Goa Minister Rane has made sensational revelations that all the Rafale files and notings are with Parrikar. Rane has unravelled everything behind the Rafale deal. If Modi has nothing to hide, then why those files are in Parrikar's bedroom which he is using to ensure that nobody does anything to him (Parrikar).”

"The audio tape is doctored. Congress has stooped to such a low level to doctor a tape to create miscommunication between cabinet and CM. Parrikar has never made any reference to Rafale or any documents. I have asked him for a criminal investigation into this," the Goa minister said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 02, 2019 02:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).