Modi protecting his friend in Rafale deal: Rahul

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi of protecting “his friend” in the contentious Rafale aircraft deal.

The Congress claimed that industrialist Anil Ambani had “prior information” about HAL losing out on the Rafale offset contract that prompted him to set up a separate company 10 days before the prime minister renegotiated the fighter aircraft deal in Paris.

Rahul thanked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for penning a blog on the “great Rafale robbery” and demanded an investigation by a joint parliamentary committee.

“How about a Joint Parliamentary Committee to sort it out? Problem is, your Supreme Leader is protecting his friend, so this may be inconvenient. Do check & revert in 24 hours. We are waiting,” the Congress president tweeted.

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma rejected Jaitley's contention that the government had nothing to do with the selection of offset partners in the Rafale deal.

Sharma said under the defence procurement policy it is very clear that the vendor has to notify how the offset liability will be discharged.

He also said that the defence procurement policy makes it clear that the offset contract has to go to a defence PSU with experience in the sector.

“Only the prime minister knew that the offset contracts would not be given to HAL and he violated the oath of secrecy taken on the position he holds,” Sharma said.

“How did Anil Ambani know that HAL will not get the contract and he set up his company 10 days before,” the Congress spokesman asked.