In a series of tweets, Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury has said that it is now “crystal clear” that the Narendra Modi government concluded the Rafale deal “in a great hurry” to benefit crony businessman at the cost of India’s national security.
Reacting to the latest exposé, by N Ram of The Hindu, which details how Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to buy 36 jets in ‘fly away’ condition shot up the price of each aircraft by 41%, Yechury said that the prime minister is “running scared of sharing details” of the deal in order to hide this very fact.
Modi's sudden announcement in Paris, to buy only 36 Rafale jets, not 126 that the Air Force wanted, violated all procedure. But it also compromised India's national security and increased the price by 41%! That is why Modi has been running scared of sharing details. #RafaleScam pic.twitter.com/M3qemjmm4y
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) January 18, 2019
He also said, “We have long demanded that only a JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) can examine the whole Rafale scam by going through all the official documents and calling requisite officials and ministers for examination,” adding that the Modi government has rejected the JPC demand because of the facts as highlighted in the article.
We have long demanded that only a JPC can examine the whole Rafale scam by going through all the official documents and calling requisite officials and ministers for examination. Modi govt wants to block it because of these facts which have emerged now. pic.twitter.com/0SV0omldOp
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) January 18, 2019
The CPI (M) leader said that the prime minister’s benefitted his crony businessman, a reference to Anil Ambani whose company got the offset contract despite having no experience in defence manufacturing, at a heavy cost to the Indian exchequer. Yechury added that “It is crystal clear now, and no amount of spin will help”.
No doubt that the deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets with France was done in a great hurry by Modi for the benefit of his crony businessman, at the cost of India's national security and at a heavy cost to the Indian exchequer. It is crystal clear now, and no amount of spin will help https://t.co/jKP8Gk613N
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) January 18, 2019
Also Read: Modi Govt Paid 3 Times More For Rafale Deal Than What French Are Paying