The Hindu ’s expose on Friday that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) held parallel negotiations in the Rafale deal turned the tables against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the Congress stepped up its agitations against the Centre.
Addressing a public rally in Bhopal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the Prime Minister is silent on disrupting the negotiations held by the Indian Air Force and the defence apparatus with the French company.
“The truth cannot be concealed forever,” he said. “The PM spoke for about two hours on Thursday, but not a single word on Rafale,” said Gandhi.
Earlier, talking to reporters at a hurriedly convened press conference at the AICC headquarters, the Amethi MP said that
‘Open and shut case’
He said it is absolutely clear that the PM has stolen ₹30,000 crore of people’s money, by-passed the process and given it to his friend Anil Ambani.
“So, it is an open and shut case that the Defence Ministry itself is saying that the Prime Minister is conducting parallel negotiations,” he added.
When asked about Modi’s allegation that the “corrupt” Congress is trying to accuse him of indulging in corruption, Gandhi said that the PM talks to himself. “One day he becomes the Chowkidar and one day becomes the Chor ?” he added.
He said that it is written clearly in the Defence Ministry note here that the Prime Minister of India is a thief. “Now, my friends in the Air Force, pilots, remember one thing — this ₹30,000 crore could have been used for your safety and could have been given to your families. This ₹30,000 crore could be given to your families in any case of casualty. This is your money; this is not the money of Anil Ambani,” he said.
He said that the Congress will continue the fight on the issue. “We have brought the truth, we have taken it right to the point and we will take it further, we are not going to stop here,” he said.
‘Ready for enquiry’
When asked about the charges against his brother-in-law Robert Vadra and former finance minister P Chidambaram, Gandhi said that the Congress is ready to face any probe.
“You do whatever enquiry about Chidambaram you want. You do any enquiry on anybody you want, anybody in the Congress party, no problem, but, please do an enquiry on Rafale. Please explain to us, why the Defence Ministry is saying that Prime Minister has carried out a parallel negotiation,” he added.