Controversy surrounding Rafale jet deal gathers storm before monsoon session of Parliament

Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 5

The controversy and political polemics on Union government’s purchase of 36 Rafale jet fighters from France gathered storm ahead of Parliament’s Winter Session with BSP chief Mayawati on Monday asking the government to come clean on the matter.

The Opposition parties have consistently alleged corruption in the deal. They had targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Congress and Left parties have made a fresh demand for a probe into the Rafale purchase deal by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) in light of French government instituting a Judicial Commission to probe into allegations of corruption in the Rafale deal.

The Congress and the CPI(M) have given broad hints to raise the issue in Parliament during the Monsoon Session.

However, Mayawati took a jibe at the Congress with regard to corruption in arms purchase deals during its regime, making it clear in public perception that her stand on the Rafale was autonomous, and not influenced by it (Congress).

“Probe into the allegations and counter allegations on commissions in purchase of arms for defence is not new, rather it is a new continuation of the same old chapter starting from the Congress regime,” Mayawati tweeted in Hindi.

She added that the present government should come clean on the Rafale deal and put the controversy surrounding it to rest.

“The news of the institution of judicial probe set up by the French government on allegations of corruption in the purchase of Rafale fighter jets by the Indian government has made national and international headlines due to which the issue has become topic of fresh discussions. It would be better if the Union government takes appropriate cognisance of it,” Mayawati added.