Rafale deal: NCP says Pawar hasn't given any clean chit to PM Modi, demands JPC probe

After the opposition parties escalated attacks on the BJP-led NDA government over the Rafale deal controversy, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has said people "do not have doubts" over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intentions.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Photo: PTI

MUMBAI: After the opposition parties escalated attacks on the BJP-led NDA government over the Rafale deal controversy, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has said people "do not have doubts" over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intentions. In an interview to a Marathi news channel, Pawar said the opposition's demand to share technical details relating to the fighter jet "made no sense". He, however, said there was no harm for the government to disclose prices of the aircraft. "I don't think people have doubts about Modi's intentions personally," Pawar told the news channel. "Now, (Union Finance Minister Arun) Jaitley can be seen articulating (government's stand) on the issue (instead of Sitharaman)," he added. Meanwhile, the NCP said Pawar has not given any clean chit to Modi on the politically-charged Rafale issue. Refering to some media reports, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said they are "confusing and misleading". "He (Pawar) has not made any statement defending Modi nor has he given any clean chit (in the Rafale deal matter)," the NCP leader said. Malik said what Pawar meant was that people initially didn't have doubts about the prime minister. "What Pawar saheb said was that the way the matter is being hushed up (by the government) and attention of people from the issue is being diverted, the doubt is deepening," Malik said. "The way the BJP had insisted on forming a JPC in the Bofors deal in the 1980s, it should now allow formation of such a committee in connection with the Rafale issue too," Malik demanded. Earlier in the day, BJP chief Amit Shah lauded Sharad Pawar's comments and asked Congress president Rahul Gandhi to believe his own ally who has put "national interests above party politics". "I thank Sharad Pawar, a former Defence Minister and veteran MP, for placing national interests above party politics and speaking the truth. Dear Rahul Gandhi, you would be wiser by believing your own ally and a leader of Pawar Saheb's stature," Shah tweeted. The war of words between the opposition parties has intensified after a French media report quoted former French president Francois Hollande as purportedly saying that the Indian government proposed Reliance Defence as the partner for Dassault Aviation in the Rs 58,000 crore Rafale jet fighter deal. Modi had announced the procurement of 36 Rafale fighters after holding talks with Hollande on April 10, 2015, in Paris. (With inputs from PTI)