‘Misinformation was spread’: PM Modi targets Opposition for ‘politicising’ Rafale deal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Opposition over the Rafale deal while inaugurating India’s largest helicopter manufacturing unit of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Karnataka’s Tumakuru on Monday.
“Misinformation was spread about HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited), and many false allegations were made against our government,” said PM Modi, indirectly hinting at the Congress which has vehemently attacked the saffron party over the issue of procurement of Rafale fighter jets.
“Many working hours of Parliament were wasted over it. HAL’s helicopter factory and its rising power will unveil those who levelled false allegations,” he said.
“This factory is the answer to the opposition charges. The truth is revealing itself today,” said PM Modi, adding that the HAL’s helicopter manufacturing factory will boost India’s ‘Atmanirbharta’ (self reliance) in the defence sector.
The procurement cost of Rafale fighter jets from France has been a bone of contention between Congress and the BJP with the former claiming that the saffron party procured the fighter jets at double the cost than the deal worked out by the UPA government.
The first batch of Rafale jets, a medium multi-role combat aircraft, landed at the Ambala air base in Haryana in July 2020. At that time, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Centre, asking why each jet was purchased at a cost of Rs 1,670 crore while the erstwhile Congress-led dispensation struck a deal for Rs 526 crore. He further blamed the government for why the offset contract was given to the “bankrupt” private firm, Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence Ltd, instead of HAL.
