Upping his ante against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale issue even outside Parliament, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday used a purported audio clip to allege that Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is “blackmailing” Modi with a file on the Rs 58,000-crore jet deal “lying in his bedroom”. He also attacked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and simultaneously challenged Modi for a 20-minute one-on-one debate over issues including defence and diplomacy.
After his speech in the Lok Sabha in the day, Rahul convened a Press conference in the evening where he played the audio clip of a conversation purportedly of Goa Minister Vishwajit Rane,
and alleged that the audio is clearly heard as saying that Parrikar told his cabinet during a meeting that all documents relating to the Rafale deal were with him and therefore, he can’t be disturbed.
Asserting that the audio was authentic, Rahul indicated there may be more such tapes and dismissed denials by Parrikar and his Minister. Jaitley had questioned the veracity of the tapes which the Gandhi scion cited in the floor of the Parliament.
Demanding answers from the Prime Minister on Parrikar’s purported claim, Rahul asked if this was the reason why a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe was not being ordered. He said the entire country wants Modi to answer these questions.
“The Goa minister is saying clearly that Parrikar ji said in a cabinet meeting that he has a complete file on Rafale deal with all details and therefore, he can’t be disturbed. There may be other such audio tapes,” said the Congress chief.
The Congress along with other opposition parties is demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe the Rs 58,000 crore deal. “What Parrikar is doing is threatening the Prime Minister and blackmailing him in a way. We have been raising this for a long time. Question is what information is there in Parrikar’s bedroom and what files are there and what could be the impact on Narendra Modi,” he alleged.
He also asked who raised the price of Rafale aircraft from Rs 526 crore to Rs 1,600 crore. Attacking Jaitley, Rahul said there were inconsistencies in the statements being made by Finance Minister and others in the government.
Jaitley has himself said this is a Rs 58000 crore deal and if we divide it by 36, it will be Rs 1600 crore. That’s how the figure of Rs 526 crore (for price of one aircraft) comes. It is not our (Congress’s) number but yours (the Government’s),” Rahul stated.
He also said the prime minister needs to answer what objections were raised by the IAF or by the defence ministry, if there were any. “”Now Parrikar says all details are in his bedroom. Truth can’t be kept hidden The more you try to hide the truth, new facts will come out,” he said.
Attacking PM, Rahul said, “The person who went to France with all pomp and show, he can’t reply and stand in Parliament, but it is finance minister who is being made to reply.” Repeating his allegation that “chowkidar chor hai”, Rahul said a JPC probe would clear throw two names — Anil Ambani and Narendra Modi.
