Anil Ambani writes to Rahul on Rafale deal, says party has been misinformed, misled
Mumbai, Aug 20: Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani has written to Congress President Rahul Gandhi saying that the party has been "misinformed, misdirected and misled" by malicious vested interests and corporate rivals on the offsets related to the Rafale fighter jet deal.
A Reliance Infrastructure Ltd release said that Ambani wrote a letter to Gandhi last week and expressed "deep anguish over continued personal attacks" on him while terming all allegations as "baseless, ill-informed and unfortunate."
Clarifying on the role of Reliance in offset exports/ work share, Ambani wrote that Rafale fighter jets are not being manufactured by Reliance or Dassault Reliance Joint Venture.
Ambani said Gandhi's allegation that Reliance Defence was set up 10 days before the announcement on April 10 , 2015 of government's decision to purchase 36 French-manufactured Rafale jets links factually incorrect information "and is thus irrelevant and completely false."
"The Reliance Group announced its decision to enter the defence manufacturing sector in December 2014-January 2015, months before the intention for purchase of Rafale aircraft. In February 2015, we informed the Indian Stock Exchanges of the companies we have incorporated," Ambani said.
The release said that all the 36 fighter jets are to be 100 per cent manufactured in France and exported from France to India.
Ambani clarified that not a single component worth a single rupee is to be manufactured by Reliance for these 36 Rafale jets.
"The allegations relating to `lack of experience' are, thus, irrelevant," the release said and added that there is no contract from the Defence Ministry to any Reliance Group company related to 36 Rafale aircraft.
Ambani said allegations of Reliance benefitting by thousands of crores was a "figment of imagination, promoted by vested interests" and put simply, "no contract exists with the Government of India "
"Our role is limited to offset exports / export obligations. More than 100 medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) will participate in this along with public sector undertakings like BEL and Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO). This role strengthens Indian manufacturing capabilities and is in pursuance of the Offsets Policy introduced by the Congress-led UPA Government itself from 2005 onwards," the release said.
Gandhi has been attacking the Modi government, alleging that the deal had caused a loss of Rs 41,000 crore to the exchequer compared to the price negotiated by the Congress-led UPA government. He has also making allegations about the offsets.
The party also said on Saturday that it will launch a month-long nationwide agitation from next week on what it said was "Rafale scam" of the Modi government and other issues.
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Background of Delhi Assembly breach accused under scanner, booked for attempt to murder
New Delhi (PTI): The man behind the security breach at the Delhi Assembly on Monday is believed to be a supporter of the 2020-21 farmers' agitation with some history of mental health issues, with sources saying his background has raised multiple lines of inquiry for investigators.
Sarabjeet Singh, a 37-year-old resident of Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh, was apprehended two hours after he drove an SUV through one of the boundary gates of the assembly and placed a flower bouquet in the speaker's vehicle parked on the porch. He has been booked forattempt to murder, among other charges.
According to preliminary findings, Sarabjeet left his home on April 1 and remained largely untraceable for five days before the incident. In this period, he contacted his family only once and did not disclose his location or travel plans.
"He travelled to Bareilly on April 2 and subsequently reached Delhi on the day of the breach," the source said.
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He also said that his family members told police that he becomes "difficult to control during such periods of illness" and that he often does not respond to family members during such episodes.
However, police said the exact state of his mental health is still being assessed as part of the ongoing probe and a medical examination is awaited.
The source said Sarabjeet was an active supporter of the farmers protest and had shared multiple posts on social media expressing solidarity with farmer leaders who died during the agitation. Several of these posts and videos were later deleted.
Investigators are also examining videos in which he is allegedly seen driving the same SUV at extremely high speeds, reportedly exceeding 150 kmph on empty roads. The vehicle, bearing a Uttar Pradesh registration number, was purchased recently in February.
On the day of the incident, Sarabjeet is believed to have acted alone. He drove the SUV at a high speed, rammed through Gate No. 2 of the assembly premises to enter the complex. He then allegedly placed a bouquet and garland inside the official vehicle of Speaker Vijender Gupta and briefly sat inside the car before fleeing through the same gate.
Police said the accused has not yet disclosed the motive behind his actions. His movements, call records and digital footprint are being analysed to determine whether he was influenced by any person or group.
He was eventually apprehended along with two other persons from a police picket near a nala in the Roop Nagar area after an alert was issued across the city.
"All individuals are currently being questioned, and further investigation is underway," read the statement.
Delhi Police, in a statement, said that at around 2.10 pm, a white SUV forcefully entered the premises of the Delhi Assembly through Gate No. 2. "One individual, alighted from the vehicle and proceeded towards the porch area carrying a bouquet and a garland (mala) of marigold flowers. It is pertinent to mention that the Vidhan Sabha was not in session at the time," read the statement of the Delhi Police.
The accused drove the vehicle in a dangerous manner with apparent intent to run over security personnel on duty, thereby endangering their lives, a senior police officer said. When security staff tried to catch Sarabjeet, he fled.
A case has been registered at Civil Lines under appropriate sections of law, including attempt to murder, criminal trespass with preparation to commit offence, use of criminal force against a public servant, and Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, along with other relevant provisions pertaining to obstruction of public servants in discharge of duty.
