Attacking Modi Govt over the Rafale fighter jets deal, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday, accused the BJP government of “undermining” Hindustan Aeronautical Limited and pushing it to a financial crisis. Addressing the press reporters outside Parliament, Gandhi said, “The strategy of the government is to weaken HAL, do not give it money and destroy India strategic capability and give a gift to Anil Ambani.”
Reiterating his demand for a “one-on-one with the prime minister,” Gandhi said, “Prime Minister Modi is scared of the Lok Sabha, he is scared of being questioned. That why he doesn’t come to the House.” He also accused Nirmala Sitharaman of “lying” in Lok Sabha. “Just give me 15 minutes with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and I’ll prove it. Iss chowkidar ne hi chori ki hai. Nirmala Sitharaman has lied in the Parliament. She is more like Modi spokesperson. Nobody answered me when I asked why nobody seemed to have any problem with PM Modi interference.”
Rahul Gandhi, on saturday, quoted another media report claiming that “not a single rupee of the said Rs 1 lakh crore has come to HAL, since not a single order, as claimed, has been signed till now”.
Accusing Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of “lying” in Parliament, Gandhi said the minister should either place the documents in support of her statement in the House or resign.