Former French president Francois Hollande's comment that the Indian government had proposed Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence as the India partner in the Rafale jet deal has snowballed into a political controversy in the country. Congress President Rahul Gandhi, in his sharpest attack on PM Narendra Modi, said "former French president Francois Hollande is calling the Prime Minister of India a thief" and that the PM needs to break his silence. His allegations have been sharply countered by Law Minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, who responded saying that Rahul Gandhi had made a "shameful, irresponsible statement".
On Friday, French journal Mediapart had quoted France's ex-President Francois Hollande as saying: "We did not have a say in this... the Indian government proposed this service group and Dassault negotiated with (Anil) Ambani group. We did not have a choice, we took the partner who was given to us."
The French government has issued a statement, saying they were not involved in the choice of Indian industrial partners. "The French government is in no manner involved in the choice of Indian industrial partners who have been, are being, or will be selected by French companies," the statement read.
Here are the live updates on Hollande's comment on Rafale deal:
LIVE: Special Briefing https://t.co/WbzP072JUO
- Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) September 22, 2018
After Rahul Gandhi's "Thief" Attack On Rafale, BJP Drops "Bribe" ChargeFormer French President Francois Hollande's startling claim on the Rafale deal has snowballed into a huge war of words between the centre and the opposition in India. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, in his sharpest attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today said "former French president Francois Hollande is calling the Prime Minister of India a thief" and that the PM needs to break his silence. Calling the Rafale deal corrupt, Rahul Gandhi said it was "obvious that PM Modi is corrupt." Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad angrily responded that Rahul Gandhi had made a "shameful, irresponsible statement".
Govt of France clarified today that claims of Rahul Gandhi on Rafale are not correct. #RahulKaPuraKhandanChor pic.twitter.com/UPp3YoDP5u
- RSPrasad Office (@OfficeOfRSP) September 22, 2018
There is evidence available that a proper MoU existed between Dassault and Reliance industry as early as on Feb 13, 2013, that means 1 year, 4 months before we came to power : Shri @rsprasad #RahulKaPuraKhandanChor pic.twitter.com/lAqOatziEP
- BJP (@BJP4India) September 22, 2018
- He has not done his homework at all. He keeps changing the cost.
- All 36 aircrafts will come to India because the country needs them
- The government does not decide what the company decides on partnerships.
- It is my charge with full responsibility that Rahul Gandhi is playing into the hands of Pakistan and China
कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष राहुल गांधी ने देश के लोकप्रिय और प्रमाणिक नेता और ईमानदारी के प्रतीक प्रधानमंत्री मोदी को चोर कहा है। आजाद भारत में आज तक किसी पार्टी के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष ने ऐसे शब्दों का प्रयोग किसी प्रधानमंत्री के बारे में नहीं किया है : श्री @rsprasad #RahulKaPuraKhandanChor
- BJP (@BJP4India) September 22, 2018
"An MoU relating to Rafale aircraft was signed before we came to power," says BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad
- NDTV (@ndtv) September 22, 2018
Watch LIVE: https://t.co/hMlRpgrUU6 pic.twitter.com/Zy5hAQr5SL
LIVE : Shri @rsprasad is addressing a press conference at BJP HQ. #RahulKaPuraKhandanChor https://t.co/08oaZbxD75
- BJP (@BJP4India) September 22, 2018
- No one has used such words against a PM of the country before
- We can't expect anything else from Rahul Gandhi
- He has no skills. He is just there because of his family
His comment comes even as the French government and Dassault Aviation, the maker of the Rafale jet, last night contradicted his statement.
He said,"We revealed the underside of the sale of the 36 Rafales manufactured by the French group Dassault for India. As part of this investigation, we questioned Francois Hollande who was the French President until 2017 and who managed this dossier personally. And he clearly told us that in the context of the discussions around the Rafale contract, the Indian partner of the Dassault group, on the sidelines, was proposed by the Indian government..."
By hiding crucial facts on Rafale deal, is Modi govt not endangering national security ?
- Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 21, 2018
Former French President's statement directly contradicts what Modi govt had been saying so far.
Can the country be taken for a ride any further ?
