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Image: Dassault Aviation website

Centre opposes court review of Rafale deal, says 'its for experts'

| @indiablooms | Nov 14, 2018, at 01:40 pm

New Delhi, Nov 14 (IBNS): Opposing a court review of the controversial Rafale deal (buying of 36 fighter jets by India from France), the Centre on Wednesday said it is for the experts to assess the matter, media reports said.

The Centre said this as the Supreme Court is presently hearing petitions seeking a court-monitored probe into the Rafale deal, which has been termed as a scam by the Congress (principal opposition party of the country).

The Centre's version has been quoted by NDTV as, "matter is for excerpts to decide on".

Attorney General KK Venugopal asked whether the court was competent to review the deal.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress are having a face-off over the Rafale deal ever since former French President Francois Hollande said India had urged France to nominate Indian industrialist Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence Industries as its partner in the Rafale deal.

Though Hollande's claims were denied by the French government, the former stood firm by his statement.

Over the pot boiling issue, Rahul even called Modi a "thief" multiple times.

Escalating his attack, Rahul had said French aircraft manufacturer Dassault had invested Rs. 284 crore in a loss-making company which was promoted by Indian industrialist Anil Ambani. The company used to procure land in Nagpur, the Congress supremo had said.

The Congress chief had also alleged that Dassault had awarded the offset deal to Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group. He also said Dassault was trying to protect one person and that is Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rubbishing Rahul's charges, Dassault Chief Executive Officer Eric Trappier on Tuesday said that he don't lie.  In an interview with ANI, Trappier said as he has been quoted by Bloomberg, "I don't lie. The truth I declared before and the statements I made are true. I don't have a reputation for lying. In my position as CEO, you don't lie."

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