Dimapur, July 26 (MExN): Stating concerns over the controversy of the Rafale deal where Congress President, Rahul Gandhi during the parliamentary sessions countered the BJP government of not being truthful about the deal, K Therie, President, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) in a statement said it was purportedly for ‘kickbacks.’
Stating that the biggest corruption in the history of India was earlier exposed by the ‘Annual Report, 2016’ of Dassault Aviation, in a single shot, he said, “for 36 Rafale Aircraft, Modi has paid Rs 60,145 crores at the rate of Rs 1670.70 crores per aircraft.”
He also said the UPA government during the international bid of 2012 bid each aircraft at a rate of only Rs 526.1 crores but the total deal worth Rs 18,940 crores was cancelled. Thus, Modi has paid more than Rs 41,205 crores in excess, he said.
There is no reason to cancel an International bid winner’s contract of Rs 18,940 crores and pay Rs 60,145 crores if it was not for kickbacks.
“The Defence Minister has also lied to the nation,” he countered. In reply to a stared question in the Rajya Sabha on March 18 2018, she announced that the cost per Rafale Aircraft was about Rs 670 crores whereas in reality, it was Rs 1670 crs. She hid Rs.1000 crores per aircraft.
PM Modi lied to the people refusing to disclose the price of the Rafale deal.
Terms and conditions covered under the agreement are tactical and technical and not the price, he pointed.
Adding that in the past, UPA has declared all such prices, he further stated “there has not been any agreement not to disclose the price and there is no need for such an agreement because the deal is funded by public money.
PM Modi has also failed to answer Congress President Rahul Gandhi in the No-Confidence Motion debate on July 20 as to why the price should not be transparent, why he has by passed mandatory provisions in taking the approval of Defence Procurement Procedure, Cabinet Committee and why he has compromised technology transfer to HAL (Hindusthan Aeronautics Limited), a PSU.
The PM and Defense Minister has misled the Parliament and the people of India. Therefore, a privilege motion against them has been initiated. As long as the Government does not come out clean, the hunt will continue.
Appealing to the people of Nagaland being a Christian State not to compromise with corruptions any more, he urged the members of the Legislative Assembly to lead for change. Lamenting that Nagaland has changed to accepting corruption as a way and means of life, he further urged to stop accepting bribes and easy money if one has faith in Christianity. As long as we hunt bribes and easy money, there will be no prosperity, he added. A gift of fish will only sustain one dinner while learning to fish, will sustain for life. Let us say “no” to easy money and bribes.
Later mentioning that “Nagas have never begged and were self content people and although our villages and our rice stores were burnt down, we did not die of hunger or cry for aid,” he said. We can struggle and live. However, we don’t even need to struggle if the welfare schemes are delivered to the targeted sectors, he added.
