Rafale deal turning out to be 'mother scam': Congress
New Delhi: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi met French President Emannuel Macron on Saturday, the Congress slammed the BJP government over the Rafale deal, saying it is turning out to be yet another "mother scam".
Asking the government to come clear on the deal, Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said: "You must be aware that for the last 3-4 days, we have been speaking (in Parliament) about the Rafale deal. For three days continuously we have been asking, but not one word from the government, not even denial.
"This is turning out to be yet another mother scam which I think the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government must come clear on," the Congress leader said.
"Where are the spokespersons of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the ministers -- Piyush Goyal, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman? Not one word about Rafale deal," he added.
Vadakkan said that the BJP's attempt to cover up the deal was falling flat. "On April 8, 2016, the Foreign Secretary said the Prime Minister is not going to take up the Rafale deal in his trip to France. On the contrary, the deal was signed. Where was the Defence Minister at that time?"
Vadakkan also said India had paid high price to France for the purchase of the fighter aircraft compared to prices paid by countries like Egypt and Qatar.
"It was not some charity. The government should answer where the money has gone. It is very strange indeed. What is it that they are trying to cover up? What is it that they are trying to hide," he said.
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Indigo crisis: Shivakumar urges Centre to act immediately, bring situation under control
Bengaluru (PTI): With large scale flight cancellations by Indigo airlines leaving passengers stranded, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday urged the Centre to act immediately and bring the situation under control.
He called the IndiGo fiasco a the direct result of the govt's monopoly model.
Taking to social media platform 'X', Shivakumar said India is witnessing the worst aviation meltdown in its history. "Thousands of flights cancelled - leaving our people stranded everywhere".
"The IndiGo fiasco is the direct result of the govt's monopoly model. And as always, it is ordinary Indians who are paying the price," he said.
Shivakumar said that the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, which is India's 3rd busiest airport with nearly 40 million travellers a year, is in complete chaos.
"This is hurting families, businesses and our national reputation. I urge the Union Government to act immediately and bring this situation under control. Our people deserve better," he added.
Domestic carrier IndiGo cancelled over 800 flights on Saturday, the fifth day of the ongoing crisis, even as the government imposed a cap on airfares and directed the airline to process all refunds by Sunday evening.
