The ruling BJP hit out at the Congress on Thursday, saying the Opposition party’s statements are helping the television channels in Pakistan to improve their TRP. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad accused the Congress of spreading blatant lies on the Rafale deal even after the findings by the Supreme Court and the Comptroller and Auditor General.
Jaitley said the Government has repeatedly made its position clear on the issue. “The Supreme Court has spoken on it. The petitioners are taking one more chance. The CAG has already analysed it. No dynast can claim that he is above the Supreme Court or the CAG and those verdicts and findings,” Jaitley said.
He added the facts presented by Gandhi during a press conference here on Thursday were completely wrong and the motivation was also collateral. “The Congress has, in the last few days, through statements of its senior leaders, has boxed itself into a corner. They are getting high TRP on Pakistan television but there is revulsion as far as domestic opinion in India is concerned,” he said.
‘Shifting narrative’
Jaitley said the Congress and its leaders have lied and the intention is to shift the focus and take up an issue which is “false”. “It is obvious that Defence notings of an issue, which is of sensitive interest to the country, have been leaked... We have a free press and we respect it. Even the framers of the Constitution said national security is an exception and that has never been challenged in the last 72 years,” he said.
Prasad said Gandhi neither believes the IAF nor the SC. “I totally condemn the blatant lies of Rahul Gandhi. He does not believe the IAF and does not trust the Supreme Court verdict that clearly said there is no commercial impropriety in the (Rafale) procurement process. He does not believe the CAG either,” Prasad said. “Does he need a certificate about Rafale from Pakistan? In that case, we cannot help. Of late, he believes Pakistan more than he trusts Indian forces,” the Law Minister added.