Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Mar 16: The Congress on Saturday March 16 released a handbook on the alleged Rafale scam targeting the BJP-led NDA government.

Congress senior leader V R Sudarshan released the handbook at the district Congress office here.

Addressing media persons regarding candidates list ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Sudarshan said, "The Modi government has favoured Anil Ambani at the cost of HAL, even though HAL has more expertise and experience to build Rafale jets. This is a major scam of Rs 58,000 crore and the government should be held accountable to the public."

He also attacked the NDA politicians for using the Balakot surgical strike in election rallies to garner votes. "The BJP has nothing to show in terms of development and welfare, so it is taking advantage of the surgical strike,"he said.

Regarding the Congress candidate list for Karnataka, he said the party's election committee would be holding a meeting on March 19 and that a complete list of candidates of Congress-JD(S) alliance for Lok Sabha polls will be released. "There is no confusion between the two parties regarding seat share," he said.

MLC Ivan D'Souza who was also present at the press meet said, "The central government led by PM Modi is involved in the Rs 58,000-crore Rafale scam. We will distribute the copies of the handbook on Rafale scam to every household in the state. Our party is ready for an open discussion on the issue."

To a question on Janardhan Poojary's recent statement opposing his candidature for the Lok Sabha elections, Ivan brushed off the matter saying Poojary did not have enough knowledge.

Ivan D'Souza also released a list of 28 questions for the Modi government regarding the promises made during the 2014 general elections.

District Congress president Harish Kumar, former MLAs J R Lobo and Shakuntala Shetty and others were present.