Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi alleged here on Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not want the “truth” behind the multi-crore Rafale deal and the Jay Shah issue to come out before the Assembly elections in his home State.
He said that the National Democratic Alliance government was delaying the winter session of Parliament as Mr. Modi was not ready to discuss the Rafale and Jay Shah issues in the House before the Gujarat polls.
“I would ask Modi ji three questions [on the Rafale deal],” Mr. Gandhi said while addressing a public gathering here in Gandhinagar district.
“First, is there a difference in the cost of [aero]planes in the first and the second contract [signed with a French firm], and did India pay more or less money as per the second contract? And, has the industrialist [whose company has formed a joint venture with the French firm], who was given the contract, ever manufactured planes?”
The Congress leader also sought to know if due procedure was followed while inking the deal to procure Rafale fighter jets with France last year.
“Modi ji will make many tours of Gujarat. Press reporters ask me various questions. Why don’t you ask Modi ji about the Rafale deal and Jay Shah? The People should also ask Modi ji about Rafale and Jay Shah when he comes to Gujarat,” he said.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to address a series of poll rallies in Gujarat next week.
