AICC general secretary and former Union Defence Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday charged that by removing the Hindustan Aeronautics limited (HAl) from the deal as manufacturer of Rafale jet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi snatched jobs from thousands of Odia youths.
Terming the Rafale fighter jet deal of the NDA Government as the country's ‘biggest defence scam ever.’, Singh at a Press conference here alleged Modi who often calls him as 'chowkidaar' (watchman) of the country lorded over the scam of thousands of crores and hence, is a 'bhagidaar’ (partner) in the scam.
Singh told that the UPA Government had readied the Rafale contract with France, according to which the price for a jet was approximately Rs 540 crore. “The contract was ready and PM Modi only had to take a decision. But, Modi went to France and scraped the previous contract even by keeping the Defence Minister and other Cabinet Ministers in dark and later, magically, it was found that the price of each Rafale jet shot up to Rs 1,400 crore," Singh told.
He maintained that though the pact with France did not have any clause wherein the price of the jets could not be disclosed to the country, Modi ignored a question on the deal by the opposition Congress in the Parliament.
“Now, the Modi Government’s new deal has replaced HAl with an Anil Ambani-promoted company which had been floated just 12 days before the eal and had never built an aircraft. The number of aircraft to be bought was reduced from 126 in the original deal to just 36 in the fresh deal,” Singh told.
Further, he asked PM Modi why there was no re tender for the Rafal deal. He asked if the Defence Air Chief was asked how many crafts they needed and if the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) and Cabinet Committee on Security (CTCS) had given their consent for the craft purchase. He said Modi purchased the aircrafts as vegetables.
Among others, PCC chief Niranjan Patnaik, former Chief Minister Hemananda Biswal, leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra and PCC working presidents Chiranjib Biswal and Pradeep Majhi were present.