New Delhi: Soon after the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF) of France ordered an investigation into the Rafale deal amid allegations of corruption, the Congress party once again reiterated its demand to conduct a probe by Joint Parliamentary Committee in India.
While addressing a press conference, Congress General Secretary and Chief Spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "The scandalous expose of Rafale scam involving massive corruption, treason, loss to public exchequer has finally been uncovered and laid bare. It has also exposed the 'sweetheart deal' and role of Modi government in this matter."
He mentioned that the French News Website, Mediapart.fr has also released details of the agreement inked between Reliance Infra and Dassault Aviation to constitute a Joint Venture Company called Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL). It also substantiates the statement of the then French Prime Minister, Mr Francois Hollande that the decision to appoint Reliance as Dassault’s industrial partner was taken by the Modi government and that France “had no choice” in the matter.
Surjewala said that if the role of former French President Francois Hollande and current President Emmanuel Macron is being investigated, then why not Indian former Defence Minister and an Indian company Reliance Infra can also be investigated.
Also Read: French judge to probe Rafale jet sale to India: Reports
Congress has been repeatedly asserting over the fact that the ‘Defence Procurement Procedure’ contains mandatory ‘anti-corruption clauses’ i.e. “No Bribery, No Gift, No Influence, No Commission, No Middlemen”, while questioning the French government or Dassault's decision to delete that clause from the agreement. This mandatory policy was also part of the tender issued by Congress-led UPA for the purchase of 126 Fighter Aircraft. The Defence Ministry had proposed the mandatory ‘anti-corruption clauses’ to be part of the ‘Inter-Governmental Agreement’ dated 20.07.2015 for the 36 Aircrafts Rafale deal by the Modi government.
Earlier, in April, a French media report claimed that 1.1 million was paid to a 'middleman' by the aircraft manufacturer. It has been stated that an investigation by 'French Anti-corruption Agency-AFA,' had revealed that Dassault paid 1.1 million euros to a middleman, Defsys Solutions post the deal in 2016. This amount was also shown in expenditure by Dassault as 'Gifts to Clients'. Following the reports of allegations by the French journal, the French aerospace major Dassault Aviation in April had rejected fresh allegations of corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal with India, saying that no violations were reported in the frame of the contract.
Surjewala further said that the facts now clearly call for a thorough JPC probe in Rafale Scam. "Will the Prime Minister now answer to the Nation?" he asked.
Also Read: Congress demands independent inquiry after French report on Rafale payment
