PM will not survive an inquiry into Rafale: Rahul

Firing fresh salvoes, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday claimed there was enough evidence to nail Prime Minister Narendra Modi for corruption in the Rafale deal and that he would not survive an inquiry.

Addressing a press conference here, Rahul alleged that Dassault Aviation paid Rs 284 crore as the “first installment of kickbacks” to industrialist Anil Ambani to buy land at Nagpur, which was later cited as a clincher for selecting Reliance Defence as an offset partner in the Rafale deal.

“Anil Ambani did not pay for the land, Dassault paid for the land...the CBI chief was looking at this ... hence he was removed,” the Congress President said here citing reports of Dassault paying 40 million Euros to a Reliance ADAG firm.

Dassault CEO Eric Trappier had said in media interviews that Reliance Defence was chosen as the offset partner because it had land adjacent to the airport in Nagpur.

“Dassault CEO is lying, he is protecting only one man who is running the country...If an inquiry starts on this Mr Modi is not going to survive it. Guaranteed. One, because of corruption. Two, because it's very clear who the decision maker was...It was Narendra Modi and it was a deal done by Narendra Modi to give Anil Ambani Rs 30000 crore,” Rahul said.

Soon after Rahul's press conference, a group of Youth Congress activists held protest demonstrations near the Prime Minister's Residence.

Rahul said CBI chief Alok Verma was aware of these transactions and was set to launch an investigation into the matter and hence was removed.

“Rafale is an open and shut case and there is only one man who has done corruption,” Rahul said adding that the Prime Minister was “terrified” about the investigation.

“The Prime Minister is silent. He is unable to sleep at night. He is terrified about the investigation,” Rahul said.

The Congress President said the Rafale deal was a partnership between two individuals and even the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was not aware of it.

“The Cabinet Committee on Security gave its clearance to the deal only after Narendra Modi returned from Paris,” Rahul said adding that a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee would uncover the layers of corruption in the aircraft purchase deal.

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