Prime Minister Narendra Modi owes an explanation to the nation on the swindling of over ₹11,000 crore from Punjab National Bank allegedly by fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau member Prakash Karat said.
Mr. Modi also has to explain the purchase of 36 Rafale multi-role fighter jets at high prices from the French company, Mr. Karat added.
After inaugurating the party’s 22nd State-level conference here, Mr. Karat said the Modi-led NDA government, after trashing the Rafale deal signed by the previous UPA government, had signed a fresh agreement with the French firm on procuring the fighter aircraft at a higher price.
The Ministry of Defence, which was adamantly refusing to table the details in Parliament, including the details of the fresh agreement such as the price of an aircraft and maintenance of the jets as it was “highly classified information”, awarded the contract to Anil Ambani-led Reliance Defence Ltd. to maintain the jets and manufacture spares.
‘Disturbing questions’
“Instead of picking the experienced public sector undertaking Hindustan Aeronautical Ltd. for the ₹20,000 crore worth job, the Modi-led administration has reposed its faith in the inexperienced, recently-born Anil Ambani firm, which raises several disturbing questions, all of which Mr. Modi needs to answer,” Mr. Karat said.
On Nirav Modi’s alleged swindling of ₹11,700 crore from Punjab National Bank, the veteran CPI(M) leader said the diamond merchant, along with his family, after orchestrating the ultra mega fraud since 2011, fled the country as he had sensed that the CBI was pursuing him.
“Now, people want to know how a fugitive, wanted by the CBI in connection with a multi crore fraud, could escape from the country along with his family and pose for a photograph along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi?” Mr. Karat said.
The banks in the country and the Reserve Bank of India should create foolproof systems to check such frauds in future, he added.
On Tamil Nadu politics, he appealed to the cadre to strengthen the party in the State, saying that the Dravidian parties had greatly weakened.
“While one is in total disarray, the other one is stagnant. Hence, it is high time to work hard to strengthen the CPI (M) in Tamil Nadu,” Mr. Karat said.
