Rahul Gandhi said he "guaranteed" Anil Ambani can't even make a paper plane.
Highlights
- PM gave 30,000 crore to his "friend" Anil Ambani: Rahul Gandhi
- Anil Ambani has never made a plane in his life: Congress chief
- Anil Ambani won't even be able to make a paper plane, he quipped
As Congress president Rahul Gandhi addressed a packed crowd in Gujarat's Gandhinagar after the Congress Working Committee meet today, the theme of his speech was clear as soon as he started speaking - target Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale fighter jet deal.
Rahul Gandhi accused the prime minister of corruption in the deal for 36 Rafale jets with France and said the PM gave Rs 30,000 crore to his "friend" Anil Ambani. "PM Modi praises the Air Force but he doesn't say he stole Rs 30,000 crore from its pockets, their pilots, and gave it to Anil Ambani," the Congress chief alleged.
Anil Ambani, who was chosen by Rafale manufacturer Dassault for an offset contract in the Rafale deal, has never made a plane in his life, Rahul Gandhi said, and added "I guarantee Anil Ambani won't even be able to make a paper plane" - his quip generating applause from the crowd.
"PM Modi goes to France and in his delegation Anil Ambani goes as well. France President (Francois Hollande) says he was asked to give the contract to (Anil) Ambani," Rahul Gandhi charged.
The Congress alleges that the government went for an overpriced deal for Rafale jets to benefit Anil Ambani, whose Reliance Defence is one of the offset partners for Rafale maker Dassault. Both Dassault and Anil Ambani have denied the Congress allegations.
The offset clause means that in exchange for the contract, Dassault has to invest half the value of the deal -- about Rs. 30,000 crore -- in Indian firms. Reliance Defence was chosen as one of those "offset" partners and is to manufacture plane parts - though not for the 36 jets ordered by India.
The Supreme Court in December refused to investigate the deal worth an alleged 8.7 billion dollars and rejected petitions that alleged corruption, including the choice of Anil Ambani's firm as domestic partner. But the opposition says the government concealed vital information. The top court is now hearing petitions asking the Supreme Court to review its clean chit to the fighter jet deal with France.
Disclaimer: NDTV has been sued for 10,000 crores by Anil Ambani's Reliance Group for its coverage of the Rafale deal