Rahul Gandhi promises probe on Rafale deal

Nagpur: Claiming that the then defence minister Manohar Parrikar knew there was corruption in Rafale deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said the deal would be probed if his party comes to power at the Centre.

Addressing a campaign rally in Nagpur, Mr Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed the fighter jet purchase deal, resulting in price increase. “I am telling you, inquiry will be initiated after elections...and the other chowkidar will be in jail,” he said, referring to the prime minister's exhortation to everybody to become a chowkidar'. “The defence ministry document states Narendra Modi changed it (the original contract) and purchased (each) jet for Rs 1,600 crore,” Mr Gandhi said.

“The chowkidar committed theft. The then defence minister (late Mr Parrikar), when asked by the media, said I don't know about the new deal, you directly ask Narendra Modi, I don't know about it. “Because Parrikar knew corruption had taken place and (thought) someone will get trapped,” Mr Gandhi said. Hitting out at industrialist Anil Ambani, Mr Gandhi said Ambani had no money, no expertise in defence manufacturing and all his businesses had failed. “Despite this, Anil Ambani got the biggest defence contract (under the Rafale deal). His brother saved him from going to jail,” he said. “Why should Anil Ambani get the Rafale contract and why not somebody from Vidarbha (region where the poll rally was held),” Mr Gandhi said.

The Congress leader asserted that he was in politics for the long haul and “here for another 10 to 15 years.” “I want to build a long-standing relationship with you. I will not speak lies. Modi has grown old and is in a hurry. So he is telling lies,” Mr Gandhi said. He did not lie since lies gets exposed sooner or later, the Congress president said, adding that his party works while the BJP “only makes hollow promises.”

Making a strong pitch for the ‘Nyay’ minimum income guarantee scheme of his party, Mr Gandhi said all economists have told him that the scheme to deposit Rs 72,000 every month in the bank accounts of the poor was feasible and can be implemented without hurting India's economy.