Rs 1.30 lakh crore scandal in Rafale deal: Former minister Jaipal Reddy
Bengaluru, August 30: Former union minister Jaipal Reddy alleged that there was Rs 1.30 lakh crore scandal in Rafale fighter jets purchasing deal.
Speaking to reporters at the KPCC office here on Thursday, Reddy said that during UPA government, an agreement was made to manufacture 108 fighter jets in HAL through technology transfer. HAL company was a pride of the country and Bengaluru. It has provided jobs to more than 30,000 people. As the NDA government led by Narendra Modi scrapped the deal, the country has incurred Rs 41,000 crore loss and around 10,000 employees have become jobless, he said.
On April 8, 2015, the Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs had issued a statement that the dialogue between HAL and French Company related to manufacturing Rafale fighter jets was going on positively. But within two days after this, Modi who had been to France tour, scrapped the deal. Now, the company owned by Anil Ambani and registered on March 28, 2015 got important place in the deal, he alleged.
During UPA period, there was an agreement for 126 Rafale fighter jets. But now, only 36 flights would be purchased. What concerns do they have for the security of the country? Neglecting the efficiency and capacity of the HAL, the NDA government has laid red-carpet to the company which does not have any experience in the defence field and thus, pushed the HAL to the hell, he alleged.
Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who was elected to Rajya Sabha from Karnataka was an experienced Parliamentarian and she was given the important portfolio. She has given a statement that the fighter flights would be purchased with less than 9 per cent compared to the deal of the UPA regime. But she did not disclose the actual price of the deal, he said.
Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also not speaking anything about the deal. As to why the central government was hiding the information about the deal from the people of the country? Anil Ambani was acting as a middleman between Narendra Modi and French company, Reddy alleged.
“For Narendra Modi, the Constitution is nothing. No one should question him. He is acting like France dictator Louis-14. The centre is dilly-dallying to constitute Joint House Committee as demanded by AICC president Rahul Gandhi to look into the Rafale deal. Let Finance Minister Arun Jaitley disclose the cost of Rafale fighter jets. When we question, the central government is questioning us. French Company is giving information to France. But Reliance Company and the Central government are hiding the information from the people of the country”, he alleged.
In Telangana, the Congress would come to power in the next Assembly election. The Congress would face the election in collective leadership. The Congress was strong in Telangana and they would win the hearts of the people again, he exuded confidence.
KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao, MLA Byrathi Suresh, KPCC general secretary Ghorpade, spokesperson Suraj Hegde, KPCC media cell head Prof KE Radhakrishna and others were present.
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Congress voices concern over safety of minorities in Bangladesh
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the "atmosphere of insecurity" being faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh and the arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das.
In a statement, Chairman of the party's Media and Publicity Department Pawan Khera said, "The Indian National Congress expects the government of India to prevail upon the Bangladesh government to take necessary steps and ensure security of life and property of minorities in the country".
"The Indian National Congress expresses its deep concern at the atmosphere of insecurity being faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh. The arrest of the ISCKON monk is the latest example," he said.
A lawyer was killed on Tuesday during clashes between security personnel and followers of Das, who was denied bail and sent to jail by a court in the port city of Chattogram in Bangladesh in a sedition case.
Das, the spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was arrested from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka a day earlier.
India on Tuesday noted with "deep concern" the arrest and denial of bail to the Hindu leader, and urged authorities in the neighbouring country to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all other minority groups.
Bangladesh reacted sharply to the Ministry of External Affairs statement, saying it was unfounded and stood contrary to the spirit of friendship between the two countries.
In its statement, Dhaka said it does not interfere with the country's judiciary, which is fully independent
