Modi acted as middleman of Anil Ambani in Rafale deal: Rahul Gandhi

Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Rahul pointed out at an email of Ambani stating the latter knew he will be chosen as an offset partner ten days prior to the deal was signed.

Rahul said: "An email has come into light that states "A. Ambani visited the Minister's office... Mentioned MoU in preparation & intention to sign during PM visit". How is Anil Ambani meeting the French Defence Minister prior to PM's visit?"

"Narendra Modi acted as a middleman of Anil Ambani. The Prime Minister should explain this," the Congress chief said.

He further alleged that Modi is involved in corruption.

"Sharing the defence information with Anil Ambani is itself a criminality. This can put him to jail as he is under the oath to maintain secrecy," said Rahul.

However, the Congress supremo didn't clear whether his party will take the case to the court though he said he will educate public with these revelations.

"No doubt that the Prime Minister is a corrupt man," Rahul added.

The Hindu reports:

Days ago, The Hindu published a report stating the PMO (Prime Minister's Office) held parallel parleys with the French government in the Rafale deal prompting the Indian defence ministry's objection.

The Defence Ministry's objection has been quoted by The Hindu, "We may advise PMO that any Officers who are not part of Indian Negotiating Team may refrain from having parallel parlays [parleys] with the officers of French Government....in case the PMO is not confident about the outcome of negotiations being carried out by the MoD, a revised modality of negotiations to be led by PMO at appropriate level may be adopted in the case.”

Stating PMO's parallel talks had "weakened the negotiating position of MoD and Indian Negotiating Team," a Defence Ministry brought a note to then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's notice. 

In another report by The Hindu pointing a finger at the Narendra Modi government, the newspaper said the Indian government made some unprecedented concessions to France in the Rafale deal (buying of 36 fighters jets from France by India).

Days before the signing of the deal, as the newspaper reported, India dropped provisions for anti-corruption penalties and making payments through an escrow account.

Francois Hollande's claim:

Congress took the matter to the centre stage after former French President Francois Hollande said the India government proposed Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence as the India partner for the 36 Rafale jets deal.     

However, Hollande's claim was nullified by the French government.

The BJP defence:

Hitting back at Congress president Rahul Gandhi over The Hindu report claiming the PMO (Prime Minister's Office) held parallel parleys with France over the controversial Rafale deal  , the BJP called the opposition leader a "pathological liar".

Countering Rahul's "chowkidar chor hai" jibe, the BJP on Saturday alleged that the Hindu and the Congress chief furnished the document by cropping, probably leaving out then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's statement.

The BJP's tweeted earlier, "If #LiarRahul and his partner in crime, The Hindu, really had faith in their 'discovery' they should've ideally wanted to approach Hon’ble SC with these 'discoveries'. But they know they won't stand a chance. Even now, we challenge liar to approach SC with his new 'evidence'."

Image credit: Congress Twitter