The Congress on Friday upped the ante on its demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe in the Rafale fighter jet deal. This was after a news report published in The Hindu revealed the defence ministry had objected to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) conducting parallel negotiations with the French side to seal the deal in 2015.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi held a press conference on Friday, where he said the report was proof the PMO intervened in the deal. “It is absolutely clear the prime minister (PM) has stolen Rs 30,000 crore of your money, bypassed a process, and given it to his friend Anil Ambani,” Gandhi said. He added it was clear the PM was “directly involved in the Rafale scam”, and it is proven now the watchman (chowkidar) is the thief (chor).
Defending the government in the Lok Sabha, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman dismissed the media report. She accused the Opposition of playing into the hands of multinational companies, and vested interests. This accusation came after Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a JPC probe, citing the news report.
“They are flogging a dead horse. Periodical enquiries by the PMO cannot be construed as interference,” she clarified. The Opposition raised the issue in both the Houses, with the Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day. The Lok Sabha, too, was briefly adjourned when the Congress, and others, staged a walkout as the House took up the discussion on the interim Budget.