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.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Kerala govt sets up control rooms for assistance to Keralites in states bordering Pakistan
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The Kerala government on Friday said that it has opened control rooms at the Secretariat and NORKA department here to provide assistance and information to Keralites and students from the southern state living in the areas bordering Pakistan.
The control rooms were opened on the directions of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in view of the tense situation prevailing in the border states, a statement issued by his office said.
It also said that "there is no need to be worried" at the moment.
The government asked the Keralites in the state bordering Pakistan to follow the instructions given by the authorities and stay safe.
"If you need assistance, you can contact the control room number." it added.
The control room at the Secretariat can be reached through -- 0471-2517500/2517600, 0471-2322600 (fax) and cdmdkerala@kerala.gov.in., the statement said.
The Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) global contact center can be reached at 18004253939 (toll free number) and 00918802012345 (missed call from abroad), it said.
Pakistan's armed forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along the entire western border on the intervening night of May 8-9, which were "effectively repulsed", the Indian Army said on Friday.
Pakistani troops also resorted to "numerous ceasefire violations" along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army said.
The developments followed the precise missile strikes carried out by the Indian armed forces on nine terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan early Wednesday under Operation Sindoor, in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.
_vb_47.jpeg)
