Rahul Gandhi tweets National Herald story on Rafale deal; says “Mr 56 does heart someone after all”

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on July 25 tweeted National Herald’s story reporting that Anil Ambani floated Reliance Defence 10 days before PM Narendra Modi announced the Rafale deal.

“Mr 56 does heart someone after all.

1. Must wear a suit

2. Must have 45,000CR debt

3. Must have a TEN day old company.

4. Must never have made an aircraft in his life. Rewards of up to $4 billion in “off set” contracts if you fulfil said criteria,” tweeted the Congress President.

The National Herald article reported that Anil Ambani floated his defence venture, Reliance Defence Limited, just 10 days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France in April 2015, shows the record with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The ministry’s website also shows that Reliance Defence Limited was started with a paid-up capital of just ₹5 lakh.

On April 10, 2015, PM Modi announced a new deal with France-based Dassault Aviation Limited to supply 36 Rafale fighter jets to India. The French company subsequently entered into a joint venture with Anil Ambani’s company. The announcement was made on the first day of PM Modi’s state visit to France on April 10, 2015.

The article noted that “It is rare and unusual for a company with such a low authorised capital to be allowed to sign a deal worth of thousands of crores, raising suspicion that rules were compromised and norms violated”.

The full article can be read here.