Enough evidence to prosecute PM for corruption in Rafale deal: Rahul

March 06, 2019 21:14

Alleging that the 'trail of corruption' in the Rafale fighter jet deal 'begins and ends with' Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday claimed there 'is now enough evidence' to prosecute him.

Leading the party's attack on the Modi dispensation over the deal, Gandhi also alleged 'destruction of evidence' and 'obvious cover-up' after the government told the Supreme Court that crucial files pertaining to the fighter jet deal were 'stolen'.

'There is now enough evidence to prosecute the PM in the Rafale Scam. The trail of corruption begins & ends with him. That crucial Rafale files incriminating him are now reported "stolen' by the Govt, is destruction of evidence & an obvious coverup,' he said on Twitter, using the hashtag 'FIRagainstCorruptModi'.

The Congress chief's attack came on a day when the government said in the Supreme Court that documents related to the Rafale fighter jet deal have been stolen from the defence ministry and threatened The Hindu newspaper with action under the the Official Secrets Act for publishing articles based on them.

The Congress on Wednesday alleged corruption and malfeasance in the Rafale fighter jet deal and said the time has come to lodge an FIR against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The corruption and malfeasance in Rafale deal is out in the open. PM Modi misused his office to give benefits to Dassault Aviation and caused loss to the public exchequer," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters.

"It is now crystal clear that blatant and massive corruption has taken place in the Rafale deal. It is undoubtedly established that Modi misused his office as Prime Minister to grant undue benefit to Dassault Aviation and caused a loss to public exchequer," he said.

Meanwhile, the Congress launched a fresh attack on Modi over the Rafale aircraft deal, alleging that he misused his office to 'benefit' Dassault Aviation and that a case under the prevention of corruption law is made out against him.

The party's chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters that the Indian Negotiating Team (INT) to finalise the purchase of the fighter aircraft was sidelined and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval finalised the negotiation at the behest of the prime minister's office.

The government has rejected the Congress's charge of corruption in the deal with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party accusing the party of spreading lies to target it.

Surjewala claimed the government bought the fighter aircraft at a much higher rate than what was negotiated by the United Progressive Alliance and also waived bank guarantee.

The government's claim of buying the 36 aircraft at Rs 59,000 crore is wrong and the INT has put the figure at Rs 64,000 crore, he claimed, accusing the government of misleading Parliament. -- PTI

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