PM acting as 'frontman for corporate friends': Congress on Rafale
What's the story
The Congress today took objection to Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman describing the opposition's questions on the Rafale deal as "corporate lobbying" and instead accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of acting as a "frontman for corporate friends". The party's senior spokesperson Anand Sharma said Sitharaman, who spoke for the deal in the Lok Sabha, was reduced to being an "apologist defending the indefensible".
Information
Fighter jet deal 'opaque and flawed', says the Congress
The Congress, which has alleged corruption and favoritism in the contract and accused the prime minister of it, also dubbed the fighter jet deal "opaque and flawed". However, the government has denied the charges leveled by the Congress and said the deal is without corruption.
Allegation
BJP's claims over Rafale 'laughable and ridiculous': Sharma
Claims by the government and the BJP that the Rafale deal is transparent and without middlemen are "laughable and ridiculous", Sharma said. "The fact is it was opaque and flawed. surely no middlemen... good. But what when Pradhan Mantri ji acts as a frontman for corporate friends?" he asked on Twitter. The opposition, he said, had raised fundamental questions on the Rafale jet acquisition.
Twitter Post
Why PM Modi didn't deny President Hollande's statement? asks Sharma
Why has the PM not personally denied former French President François Hollande's statement? Any answers?
— Anand Sharma (@AnandSharmaINC) January 21, 2019
Information
Sad to see Sitharaman defending the indefensible, said Anand Sharma
"These (fundamental questions) include compromising national security, hurting national manufacturing and denial of technology to HAL and loss to national exchequer. Defense Minister terming it as corporate lobbying is objectionable. Sad to see defense minister reduced to being an apologist defending the indefensible," Sharma tweeted.
Twitter Post
Defense Minister terming Rafale deal as corporate lobbying objectionable: Sharma
Defence Minister terming it as corporate lobbying is objectionable. Sad to see defence ministry misused to cover up and minister reduced to being an apologist defending the indefensible.
— Anand Sharma (@AnandSharmaINC) January 21, 2019