RAHUL Gandhi Smells Scam In Rafale Fighter Aircraft Accord With France

CONGRESS   President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday raked up again Rafale fighter deal with France for accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of an alleged scam in the purchase of fighter aircraft from the European country at an exorbitant price. The deal defies the common security regulations applicable to any exchange of classified and protected information between the two countries, he added. Issuing a “Modi Scam Alert!” Gandhi tweeted: “$15 billion fighter jet deal re-tendered. Prime Minister’s friends race to tie up strategic partners. “RAFALE, (Rs) 40,000 crore loss to exchequer was “Sayonara” (bye bye in Japanese) money to French so Prime Minister could re-tender contract and favour friends.” Gandhi has commented following media report stating that India is looking to buy more than 100 new fighter jets which were eventually expected to cost upwards of Rs 100,000 crore or about $15 billion. The Congress  has alleged that the deal for  36 Rafale fighter jets with the French government was finalised by the NDA  government at a higher price than the previous deal for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) negotiated by the Congress led-United Progressive Alliance government. The Congress has been asking the government to reveal the price of the deal, but the Modi government has not relented. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said the price cannot be revealed due to national security issue. India and France signed an agreement in March on the Exchange and Reciprocal Protection of Classified or Protected Information during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron replacing  the earlier pact signed in 2008 when the Congress led UPA government was in power.(image courtesy to The Financial Express)