Rahul Gandhi alleges Rafale fighter jet deal ‘biggest issue’ of corruption today

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday intensified his attack on the NDA government on the Rafale fighter jet deal, alleging it was the "biggest issue" of corruption in the country now.

Launching his party campaign at Hosapete in poll-bound Karnataka's Ballari district, Gandhi alleged that Modi had "personally" changed the contract during his visit to France to give it to a "friend", and said the prime minister had not answered the three questions posed by him on the deal.

"Today Rafale aircraft is the biggest issue of corruption in the country. I want to tell a few things about this to you," he said, while launching the 'Jana Aashirwada Yatre’ of the ruling Congress in the state. Gandhi said, "Modiji had gone to Paris in France. In France Modiji personally changed the contract." He said earlier the Rafale contract was given to defence public sector undertaking Bengaluru-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which has been making aircraft for the Indian Air Force for 70 years.

"If Bengaluru is on its feet today, one of the reasons for it is HAL. Modiji took away Rafale contract from Bengaluru and HAL and gave it to his friend," he said.

"We have asked three questions to Modi—Modiji on what basis did you give the contract to your friend after taking it away from HAL, for what reason? Why did you take away the future of its youth from Bengaluru? Why did you do this to profit your friend?

"Second question, did the price of the aircraft increase or decrease in your new contract? "Third question- when you took this decision in Paris and when India's defence minister was buying fish in Goa—did you take permission from the Cabinet Committee on Security? Yes or no."

Gandhi said Modi spoke for an hour in Parliament on the motion of thanks to the President for his address but did not utter a word about Rafale. In his speech, the Congress chief accused the BJP-led central government of failing to deliver on its polls promise of generating jobs.

"Modiji speaks about corruption. The world record in corruption was broken by his party's government in Karnataka," he alleged, referring to the BS Yeddyurappa rule in the state.

The BJP, which is going all out to unseat the Congress rule in the state, is projecting Yeddyurappa, who had quit as chief minister on graft charges, as its chief ministerial candidate.

Currently on a four-day tour to the poll-bound state, Gandhi will cover Ballari, Koppal, Raichur, Kalaburagi and Bidar districts in north Karnataka, addressing public rallies, holding roadshows and interacting with farmers and others.