Why govt unwilling to order JPC probe into Rafale deal, asks Congress
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 4
The Congress on Sunday again demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the allegations of corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal with party leader Rahul Gandhi asking why the investigation was not being ordered.
BJP takes dig at Cong over ‘commission’
- The BJP hit out at the Congress, seeking to know why its government did not procure the fighter planes
- “Is it because the Gandhi family did not get their desired ‘commission’?” asked BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra
“Why is the Modi government not ready for a JPC probe? Guilty conscience, saving friends…. all of these,” Rahul tweeted as the BJP reiterated that the Congress leader was acting at the behest of competing defence firms. With the French prosecutors reopening the matter and launching a probe into the alleged corruption and favouritism in the 36-jet fighter deal between India and France, the Congress plans to step up the offensive once again. On the eve of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections too, the Congress had made the Rafale deal the principal poll plank of the party.
The Congress is likely to raise the issue in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament. Earlier today, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said national security was merely a slogan for the BJP.
“After more than 24 hours of the decision by France to investigate corruption, influence peddling, money laundering, favouritism, there is one question every responsible Indian is asking: ‘why is the government still silent?’” Khera said.
The Congress said it was an insult to the people that the government and its ministers continued to be mum on the Rafale “scandal”.
“This government makes a song and dances about national security but does everything under the sun to undermine it,” he added.
The BJP, meanwhile, reiterated that the Congress was raking up the Rafale issue to “weaken the country”.
Sambit Patra, spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party, has alleged that Rahul is acting at the behest of Rafale maker Dassault Aviation’s rival companies.
The BJP also said that the French probe development was the outcome of a complaint by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and should not be seen as a matter linked to corruption.
