BJP Asks Rahul Gandhi to Apologize for Telling Lies in Rafale Case
The petitioners – former Indian ministers Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie, and lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan – demand CBI investigation into Rafale corruption case.
By Rakesh Raman
The Delhi unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held demonstration in front of Congress office on Friday demanding apology from Congress leaders – particularly Rahul Gandhi – for telling lies in the Rafale corruption case.
In order to highlight corruption in Rafale deal, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi used ‘chowkidar chor hai’ (PM Narendra Modi as watchman is a thief) slogan extensively before the 2019 Lok Sabha election to discredit Modi for his alleged involvement in the deal.
भारतीय जनता पार्टी ने आज कॉग्रेस के दफ्तर पर जोरदार प्रदर्शन कर कॉग्रेस और उनके नेताओं से राफेल पर गलत बयानी के लिए देश कि जनता से माफ़ी मांगने को कहा। pic.twitter.com/Mz8SiLpiMo
— Vijay Goel (@VijayGoelBJP) November 15, 2019
Rahul Gandhi often called Modi a “thief” for stealing Rs. 30,000 crore (~ US$ 4 billion) in the Rafale deal which was allegedly handled by Modi in a shady manner.
However, on Thursday, the Supreme Court of India dismissed the review petitions in the Rafale case. While the opposition leaders claim that the Supreme Court’s decision has paved the way for a thorough investigation into Rafale scam, the Indian government asserts that the court has absolved it from the alleged corruption charges.
“I wholeheartedly welcome the Supreme Court’s categorical dismissal of the review petitions in the Rafale case and with this pronouncement the government stands vindicated. The Supreme Court verdict is also a judgement on our government’s transparency in decision making,” said India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in a statement issued Thursday.
He added that the allegation of corruption in Rafale deal was nothing but an attempt to malign the clean and honest image of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and his government.
Supreme Court of India on Thursday had dismissed the review petitions in the Rafale corruption case in which the PM Modi is a prime accused. However, the opposition party Congress says the case is not yet closed.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the top court has in fact allowed a proper investigation into the Rafale scam. Quoting a part of the judgment, Rahul Gandhi tweeted that the Supreme Court has opened a huge door into investigation of the Rafale scam. He added that now an investigation must begin immediately and a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) must also be set up to probe this scam.
Meanwhile, the petitioners – former Indian ministers Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie, and lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan – still demand CBI investigation into the deal for the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from French firm Dassault Aviation.
Arun Shourie, Yashwant Sinha& I are having a Press Conference on the Rafale review judgement at 3 pm at the Press Club today. Since PC Act has been amended to req govt permission for Investigation, we are also asking the CBI Dir to seek it. Why should govt shy away if it’s clean? https://t.co/PY7ad7uoEW
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) November 15, 2019
“Since the PC Act (Prevention of Corruption Act) has been amended to take government permission for investigation, we are asking the CBI director to seek it,” Prashant Bhushan said Friday.
By Rakesh Raman, who is a national award-winning journalist and social activist. He is the founder of a humanitarian organization RMN Foundation which is working in diverse areas to help the disadvantaged and distressed people in the society. He also creates and publishes a number of digital publications on different subjects.
