Rahul Gandhi held a press conference on Wednesday, 2 January, after the Lok Sabha adjourned for the day following a heated argument over the Rafale Deal.
In the press conference, Gandhi attacked the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for questioning the Congress’s “understanding of the arithmetic of money”.
“Arun Jaitley said in the Lok Sabha that the Congress is talking about Rs 1,600 crore, but he (Jaitley) himself said it was a Rs 58,000 crore deal. If you divide Rs 58,000 crore by 36, what do you get?” the Congress President asked.
‘Why Did PM Modi Help His Friend Steal Rs 30,000 Crore?’
Gandhi said that Congress is demanding a JPC probe into the Rafale deal because it is confident of its results.
“We know that the PM is involved. We are asking for a JPC probe. We are saying let us not believe Congress or BJP. When the probe is completed, two names will be out – Anil Ambani and Narendra Modi,” Gandhi said in the press conference.
Congress had raised the issue of Rafale deal in Parliament. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had rejected Gandhi’s demand for a JPC probe.
Gandhi also added that the nation knows the truth and it can’t be hidden. “We are not questioning the quality of the aircraft. The question is why did PM Modi change the procedures of the deal and help his friend steal Rs 30,000 crore,” he said.
‘Ready for a One-On-One Debate With PM’
Gandhi added that he is ready to have a “one-on-one” debate with the prime minister. “PM never came clear on the deal. If Jaitley says cost came down, why didn’t they purchase more than 126 jets? I am ready for a one-on-one debate with PM. But he does not have the guts,” he said.
‘Parrikar Is Blackmailing The PM’
Regarding the ‘Parrikar audio’ clip that Congress released, Gandhi said the Speaker “refused to allow him to play it, so there was no question of authenticity”.
“Entire cabinet heard what Mr Parrikar said, essentially what Mr Parrikar is doing is threatening and blackmailing the Prime Minister of India because he (Parrikar) has information of the Rafale Deal,” he said.
Other Questions Rahul Asked
A few other questions Rahul Gandhi put forward in the press conference were:
- Why was the contract given to Reliance Defence?
- Why did the price increase from Rs 526 crore to Rs 1,600 crore?
- Didn’t the Defence Ministry object to the new price?
- Who changed the IAF requirement from 126 jets to 36 jets?
Arun Jaitley Responds on Twitter
Jaitley responded to allegations on Twitter saying there were two different prices in the offer made to the UPA government.
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