On Wednesday, in their pursuit to find a non-existent scam, the Congress party released an audio clip of Goa’s health minister Vishwajit Pratapsingh Rane, regarding Rafale deal case and claimed that Goa CM Manohar Parrikar has files related to Rafale deal in his bedroom. The Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala quoted Rane as saying, “The chief minister made a very interesting statement, that I have all the information of Rafale in my bedroom….that’s means he is holding them to ransom. He said it is in my bedroom here only in my flat, each and every document on Rafale.”
However, there was no confirmation on whether it was the voice of Rane 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 denies that 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
Goa Minister Vishwajit Rane has claimed that the tape released by the Congress party is doctored. He said, “The audio tape is doctored. Congress has stooped to such a low level to doctor a tape to create miscommunication b/w cabinet & CM. Mr Parrikar has never made any reference to Rafale or any documents. Have asked him for a criminal investigation into this.”
Goa Min Vishwajit P Rane: The audio tape is doctored. Congress has stooped to such a low level to doctor a tape to create miscommunication b/w cabinet&CM. Mr Parrikar has never made any reference to Rafale or any documents. Have asked him for a criminal investigation into this. pic.twitter.com/pEA6L1SiTx
— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2019
Rane also said, “I am confused with this audio. The Congress is targetting me since I have left the party and joined BJP. I have written to the CM and asked for a through the probe in this matter. The Congress is losing ground in Goa and that is why it is resorting to this. I never had any discussion with anyone about this issue.”
Rane also wrote to Goa CM Manohar Parrikar in which he thoroughly denied allegations leveled by the Congress party. In his letter Rane has said, “This is with reference to an audio that has become viral regarding the Rafale row. At no point of time there has been a discussion between me and any other individual. There should be a thorough inquiry in this matter and I would like to once again inform the Hon’ble Chief Minister that there is someone playing mischief and there should be a thorough inquiry in this matter and such mischievous elements need to be brought to the books.”
Abhijit Iyer Mitra has rightly observed and pointed out the hypocrisy of the Congress on Rafale row. He said, “Someone who doesn’t believe Dassault or the French President or the SC of India is willing to believe ambiguously worded gossip.”
Sorry but this really won't hold up even in a preliminary hearing anywhere in the world. It is great fun & tamasha though, that someone who doesn't believe Dassault or the French President or the SC of India is willing to believe ambiguously worded gossip. #RafaleAudioLeak https://t.co/P2I85Zi6im
— Abhijit Iyer-Mitra (@Iyervval) January 2, 2019
The Congress President Rahul Gandhi tried to play the audio tape in Lok Sabha but the speaker didn’t allow him to do so. She said, “Authenticate the tapes and the transcription.” After this 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 Arun Jaican authenticates it then come and play the tape.” It seems another desperate lie of Congress on Rafale has been discredit comprehensively.
