Aurangabad, Jul 4 (Agency) Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Nana Patole on Saturday demanded that an inter-governmental agreement between the ruling BJP-led central government and the French manufacturer to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore should be investigated by a Joint Parliamentary Committee in India. The Congress party had demanded an inquiry into the Rafale fighter jet scam, but the (Narendra) Modi government wrapped up the matter without any inquiry, he stated in a press statement. A French judge has now been tasked with carrying out an investigation into the Rafale jet scam, as the whole affair is suspicious, he pointed.
The MPCC chief further said that the Modi government had signed the agreement to buy 36 Rafale jets from Dassault Aviation of France in 2016. During the tenure of previous Congress-led UPA government, it had decided to buy 123 fighter jets for Rs 526 crore per aircraft, however, the ruling Modi government purchased only 36 jets for Rs 1,670 crore each with an additional expenditure of Rs 41,205 crore from the public coffers. “Why are these jets so expensive and whose pockets were filled with this transaction?” he questioned.
Mr Patole accused the Modi government of misleading the Supreme Court by giving false information and lying in this regard. MP Rahul Gandhi had consistently raised his voice against the Rafale jet deal and demanded an inquiry into alleged scam, he said. The Congress party had also demanded an inquiry into this deal by a Joint Parliamentary Committee. If it be investigated, the truth of the matter will come to light and the real thief will be found, added Mr Patole.