On Friday, Congress President Rahul Gandhi while taking dig at PM Modi on Rafale deal ended up insulting the pilots of the Indian Air Force. In a press conference, he referred to ‘The Hindu’ report, claiming that PMO was running a parallel negotiation on the Rafale deal while at the same time the Ministry of Defense (MoD) designated negotiation team was mulling over the terms of the contract. The article claims, citing a MoD note, that Prime Minister Office’s (PMO) interference undermined India’s standing in terms of negotiations. However, The Hindu had selectively quoted the MoD note.
ANI accesses the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s reply to MoD dissent note on #Rafale negotiations."It appears PMO and French President office are monitoring the progress of the issue which was an outcome of the summit meeting. Para 5 appears to be an over reaction" pic.twitter.com/3dbGB9xF4Z
— ANI (@ANI) February 8, 2019
For more details: The Hindu selectively quotes MoD note to defame PMO in Rafale deal
Citing the printout of ‘cropped’ document by The Hindu, Rahul Gandhi said, “It is written clearly here that Prime Minister of India is a thief. He has stolen 30,000 crores from you, the defence ministry is objecting to his interference. Mr Anil Ambani is his man, and Mr Anil Ambani has been given 30,000 crores of your money. Now, my friends in the Air Force pilots, remember one thing, this 30,000 crores could have been used for your safety, this 30,000 crores could have been given to your family, this 30,000 crore could be given to you, when you die in a plane crash. This is your money, this not the money of Anil Ambani”.
https://twitter.com/RavinarIN/status/1094106225719951360
Prime Minister has stolen Rs 30,000 crore of your money, bypassed a process and gave it to his friend Anil Ambani: Rahul Gandhi#ITVIdeo
Read the full story: https://t.co/grI7uKTeiW pic.twitter.com/QU1RcvbzP2— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) February 8, 2019
The statement by Rahul Gandhi is a blatant lie and falls short of facts. The note which he cited also does not mention whatever Gandhi scion has claimed. The government has made a deal worth 60,000 crores for 36 fighter aircraft. The defense procurement policy of India puts an obligation of 50 percent offset on defense purchase. Therefore Dassault Aviation, the company which produces Rafale aircrafts had to make an investment worth 30,000 crores in India of which only 10 percent was awarded to Reliance Defense which amounts to 3,000 crores. However, Rahul Gandhi has taken the liberty of exaggerating worth of the offset deal to 30,000 crore which is 10 times higher than actual deal.
For more details: Reliance only got 10 percent of the offset contracts worth 3000 crores, Dassault CEO reveals
It is well-known fact that Rahul Gandhi does not have the backing of facts when he speaks, but this time he has gone insensitive as well. He ended up expecting fighter airplanes to crash and waiting to compensate the officers. Perhaps, the Congress President is not aware of the fact that compensations can’t return the life of martyrs.
Rahul Gandhi has been making these insensitive remarks since long and his ‘Khoon Ki Dalali’ remark bolsters the notion that he gives no heed to the valour of the army and the sacrifices it makes.
Such comments on the part of the president of the oldest party are bad for the morale of the soldiers and pilots in the Air Force. The cabal thus has to decide whether it still wants to install him as the PM of the country. The soul trembles even with thought as to what would happen to the country if Rahul Gandhi ends up leading it at a time of crisis. It would be a repeat of ‘Himalayan blunder’.