The Congress party has embarrassed itself again on the Rafale deal row. First, it released an audio clip of Goa’s Health Minister Vishwajit Pratapsingh Rane, regarding the Rafale deal case, and claimed that Goa CM Manohar Parrikar has files related to Rafale deal in his bedroom. However, there was no confirmation whether it was Rane’s own voice in the audio tape. The identity of the other person is also not known.
The BJP alleged that the Congress party is peddling lies. Goa CM Manohar Parrikar has denied any such discussion on Rafale deal. He said, “The audio clip released by the congress party is a desperate attempt to fabricate facts after their lies were exposed by the recent Supreme Court verdict on Rafale. No such discussion ever came up during Cabinet or any other meeting.”
The audio clip released by the congress party is a desperate attempt to fabricate facts after their lies were exposed by the recent Supreme Court verdict on Rafale. No such discussion ever came up during Cabinet or any other meeting.
— Manohar Parrikar Memorial (@manoharparrikar) January 2, 2019
After this, Rahul Gandhi tried to play the same audio clip in the lower house of the parliament but Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan didn’t allow him to do so and asked him to “Authenticate the tapes and the transcription.” Finally, Rahul Gandhi backed off from playing the tape in the Lok Sabha after which Union Minister Arun Jaitley said, “Because he can’t authenticate hence he is now saying will not play the tape. He is lying. If he can authenticates it then come and play the tape.”
Again Rahul Gandhi seems to have repeated the same old allegations. There was nothing new in his speech. Arun Jaitley responded from government’s side on each and every allegation leveled by the Congress president in the parliament. He accused Rahul Gandhi of lying and going against the Supreme Court’s order. He said, “The country is disappointed because every word the Congress lead speaker (Rahul Gandhi) has said is a lie on the word of the Supreme Court. When the apex court speaks on every issue, it is treated as the last word, except for the jurisdiction on certain issues in the Parliament. Rahul Gandhi here says each of the contentions was raised before the court. There are some people who have a natural dislike for truth, from the first to the last word, every word spoken (by Gandhi) is a lie.”
Regarding the audio tape, Jaitley said, “Congress has manufactured the tape. Rahul Gandhi refused to authenticate the tape which he wanted to play in the Lok Sabha.” He also added, “On the last occasion, he (Rahul Gandhi) manufactured a conversation between him and the former French President. Today, he repeats the same. Today, he tried to produce a tape but he is too scared to authenticate it.”
Arun Jaitley in Lok Sabha: On the last occasion, he (Rahul Gandhi) manufactured a conversation between him and the former French President. Today, he repeats the same. Today, he tried to produce a tap but he is too scared to authenticate it. #Rafale pic.twitter.com/ukSc1UFs5H
— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2019
Arun Jaitley also attacked the Congress party for having its leaders involved in AugustaWestland, National Herald and Bofors scam. He said, “If the fingers point at you in AugustaWestland, National Herald and Bofors, then it is a bit too much. Today, they have the audacity to raise an allegation against us.”
Arun Jaitley in Lok Sabha: If the fingers point at you in AugustaWestland, National Herald and Bofors, then it is a bit too much. Today, they have the audacity to raise an allegation against us. #Rafale pic.twitter.com/7APxYZSiwb
— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2019
He further added, “There is a speciality about UPA in decision making that is if the aircraft being selected is not the one whose commerce you have dealt with then delay the transaction, make it impossible.”
FM Arun Jaitley in Lok Sabha: There is a speciality about UPA in decision making that is if the aircraft being selected is not the one whose commerce you have dealt with then delay the transaction, make it impossible
— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2019
Targeting Rahul Gandhi on Bofors, Jaitley said, “Some people understand money but not national security. When he (Rahul) was a young man, was he playing in the lap of one Q whose name cropped up in the Bofors case.” Jaitley further asked, “Why did Christian Michel mention ‘Italian lady’ and ‘son of Italian lady’?”
Arun Jaitley in Lok Sabha: When he was young, he was playing in the lap of a certain 'Q' (Quattrocchi). Congress doesn't understand national security. #Rafale https://t.co/px30H3w99k
— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2019
In his response, Jaitley also claimed that UPA postponed Rafale acquisition and further stressed the importance of Rafale. He added, “Why was Rafale necessary? It would have been helpful in the Kargil war. Defence agreements are of two types, either through tenders or inter-governmental agreements. There were six bidders and ultimately Rafale was shortlisted. UPA postponed Rafale acquisition.”
Jaitley reiterated that all the due processes were followed while signing the Rafale deal as he added, “Rafale was an intergovernmental deal. IAF has been demanding new jets since 2001.” He further said that terms of the deal negotiated by the NDA are better than the UPA. He said, “Even the Supreme Court has said it was satisfied with the process.”
Explaining the technicalities of the Rafale deal, Arun Jaitley said that there is a difference between prices of bare and weaponised jets. He went on to add, “The price of weaponised jets can’t be revealed. The negotiating team held 74 meetings before the deal was inked.” Speaking on the price of Rafale jets, Finance Minister Jaitley said, “There were discussions on the cost of basic aircraft and weaponised aircraft. Cost of basic aircraft was 9 per cent less than UPA’s time. Cost of weaponised aircraft was 20 per cent less than UPA’s time. The time of delivery was 11 years during the UPA regime.”
On Rahul Gandhi’s allegation that Anil Ambani’s firm was favoured by the incumbent government, Jaitley clarified that the offset partner was decided by Dassault, the manufacturer of Rafale jets. Jaitley said, “Congress manufacturing corruption charges. Offset was UPA policy, under the policy, 30-50 per cent materials had to be bought from India. Reliance is an offset supplier, Rahul thinks he is Rafale manufacturer. Rafale deal is of Rs 58,000 crore. How can offset deal be of Rs 1,30,000 crore then.”
On Congress’ demand to constitute a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe the deal, Jaitley said that the JPC had whitewashed Bofors deal. He said, “When the Supreme Court has gone through pricing and other details, how can there be JPC? This is no policy matter, or govt or administrative matter.”
Arun Jaitley completely tore apart the lies of the Congress party with facts and valid arguments. However, the opposition failed to maintain the parliamentary decorum. During the discussion on Rafale deal, the Congress MP from Punjab Gurjeet Singh Aujla threw paper plane towards Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
During the discussion on #Rafale in Lok Sabha, Congress MP from Punjab Gurjeet Singh Aujla threw paper plane towards Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman complained about it to the Lok Sabha speaker.
— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2019
#WATCH Moment when Congress MPs threw paper planes towards FM Arun Jaitley while he was speaking during #Rafaledeal debate in Lok Sabha (Source:LS TV) pic.twitter.com/4LuuBIUSPU
— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2019
Later on, the Congress MP also justified his act by saying, “We threw the paper planes (in Lok Sabha during FM Arun Jaitley’s statement) as the discussion was on Rafale, so talk about Rafale, but they were talking about Bofors, Agusta Westland, and National Herald. We want a JPC on this issue.”
Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Congress MP: We threw the paper planes (in Lok Sabha during FM Arun Jaitley's statement) as the discussion was on Rafale, so talk about Rafale, but they were talking about Bofors, Agusta Westland and National Herald. We want a JPC on this issue. pic.twitter.com/KbAFnmh7X4
— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2019
The BJP Member of Parliament Vinay Sahasrabuddhe expressed his pain over pathetic scenes where the young Congress MPs were flying paper planes in the Lok Sabha when Arun Jaitley was speaking in the house on Rafale deal.
It was painful witnessing pathetic scenes in Lok Sabha this afternoon! From the RS gallery we were seeing young Congress MPs flying paper planes in the house — when @arunjaitley ji was speaking —with the active encouragement of those presiding over Dominion of Dynasty!Disgusting!
— Vinay Sahasrabuddhe (मोदी का परिवार) (@Vinay1011) January 2, 2019
The uncivilised behavior of the Congress party only shows their desperation. It makes it clear that the party lacks manners and decency. This entire episode goes on show that the Congress party lacks guts to listen to answers of its baseless allegations. The true face of the Congress stands exposed once again.
