If Rafale is probed, PM Narendra Modi will not survive it, says Rahul Gandhi

Intensifying his attack on the Modi government over the Rafale deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that if a probe is launched into the fighter jet deal, the PM will not survive. 

Taking a dig at PM Modi, Gandhi said that the prime minister is so tensed that he has “sleepless nights”. “If an inquiry starts on this, then Narendra Modi is not going to survive it, I can guarantee you that,” said Gandhi. Gandhi also alleged that the CEO of Dassault Aviation had deposited Rs 284 crore in Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence by buying shares in the company from which Reliance bought land. 

“The CEO of Rafale had said that the reason Anil Ambani was given the contract over Hindustan Aeronautics Limited was that Reliance Defence has land. Now, Dassault has deposited Rs 284 crore in the accounts of Ambani’s company after which he bought the land. It is clear that Dassault’s CEO is lying, but the bigger question is that why did Dassault deposit money in a loss-making company? So, this is the first instalment of kickback that has been given to Anil Ambani by Dassault,” said Gandhi.

Gandhi also said CBI chief Alok Verma was “removed” since he was about to investigate the deal. “This is an open and shut case where there’s one person, or let’s say a partnership of two — Narendra Modi and Anil Ambani,” said Gandhi.

Face-Off

• Rahul said while the Centre says the pricing of the jet is top secret, the Dassault Annual Report had the pricing details 
• In reply, Reliance Infrastructure Limited, called the charges “blatant lies and distorted facts”