The story on the Rafale deal published in The Hindu on January 18 was mentioned thrice in the unity rally, first by former MP and senior leader Sharad Yadav and then by Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, Mallikharjun Kharge. BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha also spoke about the report by N. Ram. The report was on the escalation of the price of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft purchased by the Centre.
Referring to the report, Mr. Yadav said that the “BJP government has committed a robbery regarding the Rafale deal”.
Countering Mr. Modi’s slogan of a corruption-free government, Mr. Kharge alleged that the Prime Minister had given away ₹33,000 crore through the deal. “The increase in the prices is reported by yesterday’s [edition of] The Hindu ,” he said.
Mr. Sinha said that the Prime Minister “needs to come clean on Rafale deal”.
“N. Ram, who is a great intellectual of the country, has said in a report that the cost of Rafale has escalated by 41%. We have such a good company like HAL which can build Sukhoi. Why was it not involved?” he said.
