nStating that the Supreme Court and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) have given a “clean chit” to the Rafale fighter jet deal, the BJP on Saturday accused the Congress and its former president Rahul Gandhi of spreading lies about it following an investigation into the deal being launched in France.
Addressing a virtual Press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said statements from Rahul create a doubt whether he is playing a role of an “agent” for the competing defence companies. He is being used a “pawn” by rival defence companies, he alleged.
After French website Mediapart reported on Friday that an investigation by an independent magistrate would be carried out, Congress spokesperson Randeep Sujrewala said the Congress and Rahul were “vindicated”.
The BJP leader sought to play down the probe into `59,000 crore deal saying it is akin to a competent authority in India writing down in a file that “please act accordingly” when a matter is brought before him, Patra said and accused the Congress of spreading lies and misconceptions over the issue.
Patra said Rahul had “spread lies” about the Rafale deal. The Congress leader had wrongly claimed that there was pressure on Dassault to partner with Reliance. This had been denied by the French Government, he said.
“They said the offset arrangements were between two private companies and there was no government interference, whether from France or the Modi Government,” he reminded.