Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Apr 15: Union defence minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, said that Congressmen find it hard to believe that the deal to buy Rafale warplanes was concluded without the involvement of middlemen. She said that because of this disbelief, Rahul Gandhi has been claiming everywhere that there is a scandal behind this deal. "He is repeatedly saying this like a man under the influence of spirits," she commented.

She was speaking at a programme of interaction organized by Karnataka Thinkers Forum at the SJR College auditorium near Anand Rao Circle here on Sunday April 14. "During the period Congress was in power at the centre, no defence equipment was procured without the involvement of agents. Now defence department directly deals with manufacturers. Congress continues to make allegations even after Supreme Court, Comptroller and Auditor General's report and statistics and details provided in the house clearly established that no scam has taken place in this procurement," she pointed out.

She challenged Rahul Gandhi to provide evidence for his statement that the Prime Minister had paid Rs 30,000 crore to someone.

She said that the much-touted Mahagathbandhan has become a get-together of people who fight with each other. "Bofors caused the fall of Congress government. Now Rafale will bring Modi back to power. Because unlike Bofors, Rafale is not a scandal. It is a right step towards reinforcing defence of the country," she said.

When her attention was drawn to chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy's statement that he was informed two years back by an ex-serviceman about the Pulwama suicide attack, she felt that the chief minister is as responsible for the revelation as was the terrorist who masterminded the attack.