Sitharaman lied on Rafale deal, PM compromised national interest: Congress
New Delhi, July 27 : Taking a sharp dig at the Narendra Modi government, the Congress party on Friday accused Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of "lying" on Reliance Defence Limited, which it said didn't have the experience in manufacturing fighter jets, having secured an offset contract from Dassault Aviation for Rs.30,000 crore and a consequent ‘Lifecycle Cost Contract of Rs. 1 lakh crore in the Rafale deal.
Stressing that national interest was being compromised by the prime minister and the defence minister, Congress demanded that Modi must break his silence and reply to the nation if he represented the interest of private companies and industrial houses.
"Defence Offset Contract went to Reliance Defence Ltd, which had zero experience of manufacturing fighter aircrafts. Reliance Defence Limited had been constituted 12 days before (March 28, 2015) the announcement of purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts by PM Modi in France on April 10, 2015," alleged Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala citing a ministry of corporate affairs MCA services master data.
The party also alleged that Reliance Aerostructure Limited was given the license to manufacture fighter aircrafts by the Defence Ministry but it did not own any land or building on the date of the license, which is February 22, 2016.
"What is even more surprising is the fact that even Reliance Aerostructure Limited was incorporated on April 24, 2015, which is 14 days after the announcement of purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts by the prime minister," he added.
"Culture of crony capitalism is the DNA of Modi government. It is truer than ever in case of Rs 60,145 crore Rafale Deal," Surjewala said.
Citing a press release by Reliance Defence Limited and Reliance Infrastructure Investors Presentation, Surjewala said that Reliance Defence Limited claimed "to have secured the offset contract from Dassault Aviation for Rs.30,000 crore and a consequent ‘Lifecycle Cost Contract' of Rs 1 lakh crore over 50 years."
The leader also cited Dassault Aviation's Annual Report of 2016-17 which claimed that ‘offset contract' was being executed by Reliance.
"On the contrary, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has claimed in a PIB press release dated February 7, 2018 that the ‘offset contract has not been awarded by Dassault Aviation," Surjewala said.
The PIB release stated: "No Indian Offset partner for the 2016 deal for 36 Rafale Aircraft has been so far selected by the vendor (DA)...".
Surjewala asked: "Who is lying? Defence Minister or Reliance/Dassault Aviation?"
He further said: "Can Reliance and Dassault Aviation sign an ‘offset contract' of Rs.30,000 crore without the approval of the Defence Minister?"
Surjewala said that "absence of approval for defence offset contract to Reliance Defence Ltd from the Defence Minister and Acquisition Manager of defence ministry and Defence Acquisition Council is in complete violation of contract guidelines."
He said that the public Sector Undertaking, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), had signed a Rs 36,000 crore offset contract in shape of a ‘Workshare Agreement' dated March 13, 2014. "Once Modi unilaterally announced an ‘off-the-shelf' purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts in April, 2015, HAL was suddenly denied the biggest ever Defence Offset Contract," Surjewala added.
He also said art of deceiving India is the Modi government's mantra in this "mother of all defence deals."
He said that "conspiracy, deception and loss to public exchequer have marred the unilateral purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts by the government."
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Principal held for murdering 6-year-old girl student close to BJP-RSS, alleges Gujarat Congress
Ahmedabad, Sep 24: The Gujarat Congress on Monday claimed a school principal held for allegedly murdering a 6-year-old girl student in Gujarat's Dahod district was close to the BJP and RSS.
The child's body was found in the school compound in Torani village in Singvad taluka on Thursday and a probe zeroed in on principal Govind Nat.
Nat, who was taking the child to school in his car, smothered her to death after she fended of his sexual assault attempt, as per police. He was held on Sunday.
Sharing some photographs in which the accused can be purportedly seen sitting with former state minister Arjunsinh Chauhan and attending an RSS event in the outfit's uniform, Gujarat Congress spokesperson Parthivraj Kathvadiya said, "Govind Natt is a political figure. In the photographs available on social media, Nat can be seen with BJP leaders and also attending events of RSS and VHP."
"It is clear from such cases that our daughters are not safe under BJP rule in Gujarat. These incidents are a disgrace to the education sector and has left parents worried," Kathvadiya said in a statement and expressed concern on the accused getting protection due to his political influence.
He also asked if BJP leaders would take out a candle march for "Dahod's daughter".
Responding to the allegations, Gujarat Education Minister Kuber Dindor said his department worked closely with the police to solve the crime at the earliest.
"We worked closely with the police. It is a shameful act by a principal. Thanks to our efforts, police managed to nab him in 24 hours and sent him behind bars. We have already suspended him and our government will ensure the case will run in a fast track court for speedy justice," said Kuber.
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