Sitharaman 'caught lying' on Rafale deal again, must resign: RaGa
What's the story
Congress President Rahul Gandhi today accused Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of "lying" on HAL's capability to build Rafale aircraft and demanded her resignation. The Congress chief took to Twitter to attack Sitharaman, alleging that her position as the Defense Minister has become untenable as a former chief of the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has "nailed her lie". Here's more.
Twitter Post
HAL had the capacity to build the Rafale: Gandhi
The RM (Rafale Minister) tasked with defending corruption has been caught lying again. The former HAL Chief, T S Raju, has nailed her lie, that HAL didn’t have the capability to build the RAFALE. Her position is untenable she must resign. https://t.co/7mKXV5wo8x
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 20, 2018
Details
Govt bypassed HAL in favor of some businessman friends: Congress
Congress has alleged that the government caused loss of over Rs. 41,000cr to the exchequer and endangered national security by bypassing the HAL in favor of some businessman "friends" for offset contract in the Rafale deal. Under India's offset policy, foreign defense entities are mandated to spend at least 30% of the total contract value through procurement of components or building of research facilities.
Sitharaman's take
Sitharaman blames former Defense Minister for the deal getting canceled
Nirmala Sitharaman had earlier said that it was former Defense Minister AK Antony's unprecedented intervention that led to the deal being canceled after the price negotiation committee had almost finalized the deal. The charge has, however, been denied by Antony as false. Sitharaman had also accused Antony of not supporting the state-run HAL in getting the Rafale deal.