Rahul Gandhi misled the nation over Rafale: Amit Shah after SC verdict

Giving a shot in the arm of the BJP which is suddenly on the back foot after suffering electoral reverses in state polls, the Supreme Court has rejected all the pleas which sought a probe into the Rafale deal pertaining to the buying of 36 fighter jets by India from France.

Addressing a press conference following the judgement, Shah said: "Rahul Gandhi misled people of the nation by resorting to lies over the Rafale issue."

 

"He (Rahul Gandhi) should tell people the source of information of the allegations brought against the BJP government."

 

The ruling BJP and Congress are having a face-off over the Rafale deal ever since former French President Francois Hollande said India had urged France to nominate Indian industrialist Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence Industries as its partner in the Rafale deal.

Though Hollande's claims were denied by the French government, the former stood firm by his statement.    

The Congress had claimed that the central government caused a loss of over Rs. 41000 to the exchequer in connection with the Rafale deal.

The party accused the Centre of endangering the national security by bypassing the HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) in favour of some businessman "friends" for offset contract in the controversial Rafale deal.

The Rafale deal has taken the centre stage of Indian politics of late with the Congress demanding the release of the price at which 36 fighter jets were bought.

However, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman denied to reveal the price owing to secrecy clause in the deal.

 

Attacking the Congress chief, Shah on Friday said: "If all thieves gather call chowkidar (Narendra Modi) a thief, no one will believe."

 

Image: File