New Delhi: Accusing Narendra Modi-led NDA government of ‘ever-shifting statements’, claiming it is a ‘gross violation of mandatory procedures’ and textbook case of criminal misconduct in Rafale deal, Swaraj Abhiyan founder Prashant Bhushan, along with former union ministers Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha, pointed out several discrepancies in the Rafale aircraft deal on Wednesday during a press conference at the Press Club of India.
Calling Rafale deal as imperil to the national security they said without consulting Defense Minister Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut the list of 126 jet aircraft to 36.
In the press conference, Arun Shourie said that the sudden manner in which the order for the Rafale fighter aircrafts deal was changed surely violates the mandatory procedures. The contradictory and ever-shifting statements of ministers and the gross misuse of media reports have been misleading the country.
Arun Shourie, who served as the Minister of Communications in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, claimed that Rafale deal is a massive scandal which jeopardises national security. “PM Narendra Modi’s own core team was kept in the dark.”
The three leaders also launched a full frontal attack on the Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Defence, saying that the company which was under Rs 8,000 crore in debt and had no experience in making aircraft was given the contract rather than Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) which is a public sector company and have long experience in manufacturing defense material.
Reiterating Shourie and Prashant Bhushan’s claims, former BJP stalwart Yashwant Sinha said, “CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India) should conduct an audit of Rafale deal and submit a report within 3 months.”
They urge:
- The government to disclose the facts relating to the deal – especially those relating to the cost that the exchequer has paid.
- The Opposition parties to press the government relentlessly on this matter as, financial considerations apart, the government has wilfully by-passed institutions and violated procedures that have been evolved to safeguard national security
- The media to do its duty by excavating the facts that the government is trying so hard to conceal
