Modi must speak on Rafale and price rise: Congress

| | Dehradun
  • 0

Modi must speak on Rafale and price rise: Congress

Monday, 08 October 2018 | PNS | Dehradun

When the Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing the State's maiden Investors Summit at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium here on Sunday the Congress workers were staging a protest at Gandhi Park, demanding the PM to break his ‘stony silence’ on Rafale deal and the spiralling prices of essential commodities.

Earlier, the State Congress chief Pritam Singh had said that though his party was not inimical to the Investors Summit they would hold the protest to demand the PM to speak out his mind on the two issues confronting the nation.

Addressing the well-attended party gathering at Gandhi Park on Sunday, Singh said that if the PM has moral courage he should reply to the Congress’s questions on Rafale aircraft deal and the price rise. “He owes an answer to the nation on these two matters,” he said.

Citing figures, he said that while the deal to procure Rafale fighter jets for Indian Air Force (IAF) was finalised during the UPA regime according to which one plane was to cost Rs 526 crore the same has been purchased at a staggering cost of Rs 1670 crore  during the NDA regime. The Congress leader alleged that on the insistence of Narendra Modi, the Government of India undertaking Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) had been sidelined to favour Reliance under the offset clause.

Dwelling on the price rise, the State Congress chief said that soon after assuming office in 2014, Narendra Modi had promised to bring down the prices within 100 days. “But  over the  past four years, the prices have been going through the roof.

For instance, the gas cylinder which used to cost Rs 390 during the time of the UPA  Government is now costing Rs 900,” he said.

Reiterating his party’s stance on the Investors Summit, he said that his party was not opposing it. “But we are just asking the PM to answer to two questions on Rafale deal and price rise,” he said.

Addressing the gathering, the leader of the opposition in the State Assembly Indira Hridayesh said that Congress would continue to hold protest rallies on price rise and Rafale deal.

Among others present during the sit-in were the former ministers Dinesh Agarwal and Matbar Singh Kandari, PCC vice- president Surya Kant Dhasmana and former PCC president Kishore Upadhyaya.

State Editions

11 killed in Hardoi road mishap

07 November 2024 | PNS | Lucknow

Yogi to inaugurate Akanksha Haat

07 November 2024 | PNS | Lucknow

Prashant Kumar likely to made permanent DGP

07 November 2024 | Preetam Srivastava | Lucknow

Mobility crisis is behind pollution in city: CSE

07 November 2024 | Staff Reporter | Delhi

Delhi’s air quality ‘very poor’, smog blankets city

07 November 2024 | Staff Reporter | Delhi

Sunday Edition

The comeback man

03 November 2024 | Gyaneshwar Dayal | Agenda

DINING REDEFINED! WYNN MACAU DEBUTS DRUNKEN FISH

03 November 2024 | RUPALI DEAN | Agenda

Oktoberfest on a Platter

03 November 2024 | Sharmila Chand | Agenda

Vegan Wonders: Where to Eat Next!

03 November 2024 | Team Agenda | Agenda

LIVING IT UP IN AN AIRBNB IN LONDON

03 November 2024 | AKANKSHA DEAN | Agenda

Srisailam: A journey to spiritual splendour

03 November 2024 | VISHESH SHUKLA | Agenda