Arun Jaitley contests Rahul Gandhi’s Rafale allegations

GNN | Nov 26, 2017, 12:02 PM IST|

AHMEDABAD: Reacting strongly to the continuing onslaught by Congress VP Rahul Gandhi on irregularities in the Rafale fighter deal with France, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said the deal for 36 fighter jets was a "government to government deal". He added that "the Rafale deal did not involve any broker in between like Ottavio Quattrocchi for Bofors during Congress rule."
Jaitley accused the UPA for delaying the deal for over a decade, "The Rafale deal was important transaction for our Air Force to achieve its optimal capability. The previous non-performing government's inertia was affecting the combat ability of our Air Force." He added, "The Rafale issue is a two-year old issue, how come the Congress remembered it now. I feel it is a motivated campaign keeping in view the Gujarat elections. Elections these days cannot be contested by deception," a TNN report said.
The Congress had earlier alleged that during his visit to France in April 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cancelled the earlier Rafale deal signed by the UPA — which made public sector undertaking, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) a partner with the French manufacturer Dassault Aviation — to buy 36 aircraft in fly-away condition at a much higher price. Jaitley also attacked the Congress's recent "caste alliances for electoral gains."
"The Congress today stands mortgaged in the hands of those who spread anarchy. Gujarat has already suffered the consequences of such a vicious alliance a few decades ago and I am sure the aspirational and progressive Gujarati voter knows what is best for the state." He also added, "The Congress leadership is also highly economic with the truth." When asked to comment on Gandhi's tweet on Hafiz Saeed's release that blamed NDA the government's failed "hugplomacy", Jaitley said, "An immature attitude and immature commenting on such serious issues does not look good."