The Lok Sabha on Friday concluded its debate on the high voltage Rafale aircraft deal – wherein the Congress has alleged corruption against Modi government – with the Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman putting up a spirited response and giving a tongue lashing to Congress leadership for calling ‘names’
“I was called ‘jhoothi’ (liar), Prime Minister was called a ‘chor’ (thief), now the Congress leaders are being so sensitive of being named.I don’t have a ‘khandaan’ (dynast), I come from a middle class family but I am sensitive too,” she said at the end of the debate registering her strong protest over the manner Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi have used words and phrases like ‘chor’ for the Prime Minister.
“It is not only a khandan’s right to protect the honour….We also have honour. I may come from very ordinary background, Prime Minister may come from a very poor family. But who them the right to
call us my names,” she said in presence of Congress president and others.
“You hug Prime Minister ….and then wink your eyes. Was it not an insult?,” she asked referring to Mr Gandhi’s gesture in the Lok Sabha during No Confidence motion in July.
A fiery Defence Minister Ms Sitharaman in her reply announced first Rafale aircraft will come to India by September 2019 as part of the pact.
She accused Congress of not addressing Indian Air Force’s needs when the party was in power and maintained over the years China and Pakistan had bolstered their air forces.
“The environment around India is very volatile. It is therefore important that we will do anything to keep the peace. Timely getting of arms and ammunition and other platforms is a must,” Ms Sitharaman said.
Referring to China and Pakistan, she said: “Our neighbours have been increasing their aircraft capacity” and emphasised that – timely getting equipment “for our armed forces should be thus a priority, considering the sensitive condition at the border”.
“China added 400 aircraft between 2004 and 2015. Pakistan doubled their total number of aircraft. India had 42 squadrons in 2002, 36 squadrons in 2007 and 32 squadrons in 2014,” she said adding the Congress party is only “shedding crocodile tears”.
“Congress says we have reduced deal for 128 aircraft to deal for 36 but this is misleading the country. Even UPA was buying 18 jets in flyaway condition. We have, in fact, increased it from one squadron to two squadrons for a total of 36 jets in flyaway condition,” she said.
Trying to take the Rafale row battle into the rival Congress camp, she said :”There is a difference between defence dealings and dealing in defence. We don’t do defence dealings. We deal in defence with national security as a priority.”
“The first aircraft (Rafale) will be delivered in 2019 and the final aircraft from the deal will be in India by 2022,” she said, adding that negotiations were completed in 14 months by the Modi government whereas UPA held discussions over eight years.
She alleged the grand old party of “shedding crocodile tears” over the functioning of public sector HAL.
“If you are really concerned about HAL you would invest in them, you would talk to experts on how to improve them. You didn’t do any of that,” Defence Minister said in her spirited reply to the debate on Rafale row under Rule 193 in the lower House.
She said: HAL needed more man hours to produce the aircrafts and then Dassault didn’t want to guarantee the crafts being produced by HAL in India.?
Citing reports from Parliament Accounts Committee reports, she said under UPA dispensation, the HAL was overall neglected by UPA. “It is like shedding crocodile tears…,” she said more than once.
Seeking clarification to the Minister’s response, Congress president insisted that in a meeting with ex-President Emmanuel Macron, “I asked him whether the secret pact signed with Indian government included price of Rafale aircraft. In response he said price is not a part of the secret pact and you’re welcome to say this publicly”.
It may be mentioned that during No Confidence debate, the same issue had figured.
Mr Gandhi also said his allegations on Rafale deal row is “not against” the incumbent Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman or even her one of the predecessors Manohor Parrikar, but the charge is against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“I am not accusing you or the former Raksha Mantri (Parrikar)…I am very clear that the Prime Minister is directly involved in the Rafale scam,” Mr Gandhi said in Lok Sabha seeking clarification from Defence Minister Ms Sitharaman on her reply to the debate.
He sought to clarify, “Defence Minister said that we are accusing her – no, I am not accusing you”.
“You have not done anything wrong except defending a lie….so far I have no proof of corruption against you (Ms Sitharaman),” Mr Gandhi said.
The Congress president also said that the Defence Minister in her long reply to the debate has not said who decided to take the deal from HAL and give it to industrialist Anil Ambani’s company. (UNI)
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