Raising questions about the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his PMO in conducting “parallel negotiations” in the Rafale deal, as revealed by The Hindu on Friday, Opposition leaders launched a scathing attack on the BJP government over the defence deal with France.
AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal demanded CBI raid on the PMO and arrests in connection with the fighter jet deal. “In the light of today’s exposé on Rafale, “independent” CBI should raid the PMO, seize all the files related to Rafale and make arrests just like they raided my office and residence and the Kolkata police commissioner,” he tweeted.
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury demanded that the Prime Minister should take responsibility for the loss to the exchequer and for violation of procedures. “Modi has consistently undermined the Air Force & Defence Ministry in the Rafale deal for corruption, to benefit his cronies. His actions have hurt the public exchequer & damaged national security. These facts have been hidden from Supreme Court where a review petition is pending,” Mr. Yechury tweeted.
DMK president M.K. Stalin told reporters that Mr. Modi’s actions in the deal was akin to contempt of court. “PM Modi has come under the Supreme Court’s contempt. In its sealed envelope to SC, the Centre never mentioned PMO’s negotiations. Never ever in independent India was a Prime Minister caught in such serious allegations,” he alleged.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who was a member in UPA II government in 2009, tweeted: “I’d like to see how this one is explained by the talking heads aligned to the BJP. @PMOIndia ‘weakened the negotiating position of the Ministry of Defence & the Indian Negotiating Team’ as per this note in an MOD file that went up to the Defence Minister.”
