Temples of modern India under attack: Rahul Gandhi

Congress President held an interaction with former HAL employees in Bengaluru, scaling up attack on Rafale deal

Congress president Rahul Gandhi during his interaction with with former HAL employees at Cubbon Park in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Scaling up his attack on the Narendra Modi Government on alleged corruption in the multi-crore Rafale deal with Dassault Aviation of France, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that “public sector undertakings, temples of modern India, are under attack and being destroyed.”

Interacting with nearly 150 retired and some working employees of the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) as part of the Rafale campaign, he said that the Congress would not allow this attack and destruction.

Referring to PSUs as “Temples of modern India” - the term coined by country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharal Nehru to describe scientific research institutes and industries in India soon after independence - Mr Gandhi said several PSUs such as HAL, ISRO, DRDO were under attack and attempts were being made to destroy them.

The Congress president applauded the HAL employees for their work and said he wanted to work with them in making HAL more effective.

The meeting was held in the backdrop of HAL corporate office at Minsk Square circle in Begnaluru, where a replica of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, built by HAL for the Indian Air Force (IAF), is showcased for the public.

“HAL is one among temples of modern India. They are being destroyed because of the corruption that Mr Modi is indulging in to help Anil Ambani. And it is very clear that they are being destroyed because their [HAL] orders are being taken away, their future is being taken away.”

Substantiating the Rafale narratives, he said the Modi Government has “insulted HAL employees.” “They are [HAL employees] being insulted, hurt and questioned [their capabilities] by the Central government by denying them the deal to manufacture the aircraft.” HAL, which was established in 1940 has indigenously manufactured a variety of aircraft such as MIG 21, Surya Kiran, Tejas, Chetak, Jaguar, Lancer, and exported components to more than two dozen countries.

Criticising the Modi Government’s “favouritism” for industrialist Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Defence Limited (RDL) in the Rafale deal, Mr Gandhi claimed that Defenece Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s statement on HAL’s capacity has no substance.

Mr Gandhi said, “She [Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman] does not have anything to say about lack of experience of Mr Ambani who has never built plane in his life. HAL has no debt. He [Mr Ambani] has debt of ₹45,000 crore. HAL has been working for the past 78 years and his company has been working for 12 days.”

Former HAL union leaders narrated their experiences and urged Mr Gandhi to take steps to safegurad the interests of the PSU and its employees.

Congress leaders Jaipal reddy, Mallikajun Kharge, K C Venugopal, Siddaramaiah, D K Shivakumar, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Eshwar Khandre were among others attended the programme held nearly 90 minutes.

In response, Shobha Karandlaje, BJP general secretary and MP for Udupi-Chikkamagaluru, said the only aim behind the programme was to “create confusion” that would eventually “hamper national security”. The party posed six questions to Mr. Gandhi, accusing the Congress-led UPA government of not fast-tracking the purchase of medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft despite starting the process in 2007, and thereby, “backstabbing HAL.”