Rahul’s angst on Rafale inspired by ulterior motive of commercial interest: Prasad

Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 7

The slugfest between the government and Congress on the Rafale deal intensified on Monday with Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad saying outside Parliament that Rahul Gandhi’s angst on the deal was inspired by an ulterior motive of commercial interest.

He referred to a media report that the middlemen involved in the AugustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, including Christian Michel, were working on behalf of Eurofighter Typhoon—the rivals of Rafale jet.

“The middlemen were trying to swing India’s deal in favour of Eurofighter over the Rafale,” Prasad said, and cited the media report saying the middlemen in their internal correspondence had referred to the “first family” to cut the deal in favour of Eurofighter.

Prasad said, “The charges of the Congress and Rahul Gandhi on the Rafale deal against the government are sham and manufactured.”

Prasad put forth three posers to Rahul, including as to why the UPA government stalled the process to finalise the deal to purchase Rafale after seven years of negotiation, and at a time when the tender bid by Dassault Aviation was the lowest.

“Was it because there was a wait for commission, and to provide space for Eurofighter?” he asked.

He asked Rahul as to why the reference to the “first family” repeatedly cropped up in corruption cases, and for how long would he play politics on the country’s defence.