Rahul Gandhi mounts attack on PM Modi over Rafale deal, demonetisation: 10 Points

Addressing a hard-hitting press conference here, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday escalated his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale deal and the demonetisation exercise.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi addresses a press conference at AICC headquarters. Photo: PTI

NEW DELHI: Addressing a hard-hitting press conference here, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday escalated his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale deal and the demonetisation exercise. He alleged the demonetisation exercise was the "biggest scam" under which money taken from the common people was given to the 'defaulting' crony capitalists, who were Modi's friends. Here's what Rahul Gandhi said on Demonetisation:

• "Why did he (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) do it (demonetisation)? His 15-20 big industrialist friends had accumulated NPAs worth thousands of crore. So through demonetisation, your (common man's) money was taken out of your pocket and put directly in the pockets of the country's biggest crony capitalists."
• He said Modi's "friends" turned black money into white after the November 2016 note ban. "For example, a cooperative bank in Gujarat whose Director is (BJP President) Amit Shah, exchanged Rs 700 crore in the wake of demonetization. It cannot even be called a jumla, it can be called a scam," he added.
• Demonetisation was not a mistake but an attack on you (the people of India). Indeed, Prime Minister Modi did what had not been done in the last 70 years... He did it and devastated the economy (through demonetisation).
• The Prime Minister had promised that black money, terror funding, and fake currency will be eradicated by demonetisation but the RBI annual report proves that all its objectives have failed. He should answer why he inflicted a deep wound like demonetisation when issues like unemployment and low GDP rate remained.
• There is a huge list of unfulfilled promises and lies. His words hold no meaning anymore. The man is lying. We don't take the promises he makes seriously but we catch his lies: Gandhi said referring to PM Modi.

Here's what Rahul Gandhi said on Rafale deal:

• Rahul Gandhi asked PM Modi why an aircraft costing around Rs 520 crore was bought at Rs 1,600 crore. "Why did you buy an aircraft of Rs 520 crore at the cost of Rs 1,600 crore? Who were you (Modi) trying to benefit?"
• He claimed the India-France joint statement clearly states that the 36 aircraft in question will be of the same configuration.
• "There are clear facts in Rafale case. Anil Ambani has Rs 45,000 crore debt. He formed the company 10 days before the deal. What is the deal between Anil Ambani and PM Modi?"
• Gandhi demanded answers from the government on why state-run aerospace major HAL was not involved in the deal. "Anil Ambani's firm never made aircraft whereas the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has been manufacturing jets for last 70 years," he said.
• He also demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe on the Rafale deal. Slamming Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Gandhi said he was blogging but not saying anything on a probe by a JPC.