France denies Rahul's Rafale claims.
The Opposition today launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led government over unfulfilled promises and the Rafale deal, as the Lok Sabha took up for debate the no-trust vote against the Centre.
While the TDP's Jayadev Galla initiated the debate on the no-confidence motion and attacked the Modi government for ignoring the interests of Andhra Pradesh after Telangana was carved out of it, Congress President Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of Rafale fighter aircraft deal and making "tall' promises without fulfilling them.
This is the first time that a no-confidence motion has been moved in the Lok Sabha since the BJP-led dispensation came to power four years ago.
1. Macron told me there was no secret deal: Rahul Gandhi
)
"I personally met the French president and asked him if there is such a pact between the French and Indian governments. The French president told me that there is no such pact between the French and Indian governments.
"This is the truth, and he told me that I have no objection to it (details of Rafale deal) being made public, you can tell it to entire India.” Rahul Gandhi said.
He added: “The Defence Minister has spoken 'untruth'.... The French prime minister has personally told me that there is no secret pact between Indian and French government.”
2. Nirmala Sitharaman counters Rahul
)
"It was an agreement of secrecy. Protection of classified information. I am not privy to what the French President told Rahul Gandhi. But I am referring to two particular interviews that the French President had given to Indian TV channels. “In the interviews, the French President had said that commercial details of the Rafale deal cannot be revealed," Nirmala Sitharaman said.
3. France rebuts Rahul Gandhi
)
“We have noted the statement of Mr Rahul Gandhi before the Indian Parliament. France and India concluded in 2008 a Security agreement, which legally binds the two States to protect the classified information provided by the partner, that could impact security and operational capabilities of the defence equipment of India or France.
These provisions naturally apply to the IGA concluded on 23 September 2016 on the acquisition of 36 Rafale aircraft and their weapons. As the President of the French Republic indicated publicly in an interview given to India Today on 9th March 2018, ‘In India and in France, when a deal is very sensitive, we can’t reveal all details’," Spokesperson of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs said in Paris.
4. BJP to move privilege motion against Rahul
)
BJP MPs will move a privilege motion against Rahul Gandhi for putting forth falsehood and misleading the Parliament, said Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar on Friday after Gandhi levelled a slew of accusations against the government.
He said, “His (Rahul Gandhi) behaviour was childish. He has grown old but it is unfortunate that he has not grown up. It is unfortunate that the president of Congress is so ill-informed and immature.”
5. Rahul Gandhi stands by his claim
)
"I stand by what I said. Let them (France) deny if they want. Along with me Anand Sharma and Ex-PM were also there.”
