Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Oct 14: BJP MLA C T Ravi and spokesperson Ashwath Narayan have put six questions to AICC president Rahul Gandhi with respect to the beginning of the Rafale deal and the developments that have taken place later.

Ravi and Ashwath questioned Rahul and said, "Though the UPA government had made an agreement in 2012 itself to buy 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) aircrafts from Dassault, no action was taken further till 2014. Is this not a risk with regards to the security of the nation?"

The duo further questioned Rahul and said, "Is it not treachery that instead of trying to resolve the indifferences that arose between HAL and Dassault, keeping HAL totally out of the deal?"

C T Ravi (L) and spokesperson Ashwath Narayan

"Instead of continuing with the agreement, why you gave a picture in the international level that making such agreements with India is difficult? According to the Request for Proposal (RFP) of 2007, which was done by UPA, the cost of each green aircraft was Rs 737 crores. However, NDA government had a discussion for Rs 670 crores for the same aircraft in 2015. Are you not misleading the public by hiding this fact?" questioned Ravi and Ashwath.

They further questioned Rahul and said, "Instead of buying a military aircraft which does not have any missile carrying facility, a full-fledged combat aircraft with all the facilities for armaments had been procured by the present government. Why are you trying to fool people without letting them know the difference in features of both aircrafts and just telling the common man about the price only?"

"You are saying that Anil Ambani has made a profit of Rs 30,000 crores in this deal. However, Dassault themselves have clarified that Reliance is also one of the 100 companies with whom they have had an agreement in this deal. Dassault have also said that on Reliance they have invested 10%, means Rs 3,000 crores. Why you are not saying anything in this matter?" they questioned.