Rafale row: Rahul attacks PM Modi, calls deal 'Globalised corruption'

Citing a report from The Indian Express, Rahul tweeted: "Globalised corruption. This #Rafale aircraft really does fly far and fast! It's also going to drop some big bunker buster bombs in the next couple of weeks.

Modi Ji please tell Anil, there is a big problem in France."

This comes after The Indian Express on Friday reported that two days before then French President Francois Hollande came to New Delhi as the Republic Day chief guest and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with PM Modi for delivering 36 Rafale aircraft, Anil Ambani’s Reliance Entertainment entered into a deal to produce a film with Hollande’s partner and actor Julie Gayet.

Later that year, Ambani’s Reliance Defence became part of the offset programme of the Rs 59,000-crore Rafale deal through Dassault Reliance Aerospace Ltd (DRAL), in which it holds a 51% stake, said The Indian Express report.

Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Rafale deal and attacked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley with a Facebook post.

He tweeted: "Mr Jaitley, thanks for bringing the nation’s attention back to the GREAT #RAFALE ROBBERY! How about a Joint Parliamentary Committee to sort it out? Problem is, your Supreme Leader is protecting his friend, so this may be inconvenient. Do check & revert in 24 hrs. We’re waiting!"

On Thursday, Rahul further took a dig at the Union Finance Minister and wrote: "Dear Mr Jaitley,

Less than 6 hrs left for your deadline on the #Rafale JPC to run out.

Young India is waiting. I hope you're busy convincing Modi Ji and Anil Ambani Ji about why they should listen to you & approve this!"

On Wednesday, in a direct attack to Rahul Gandhi, Jaitley claimed that the BJP-led NDA government is procuring Rafale aircraft at a 20 percent lesser price than the bid of 2007 under the Congress-led UPA regime and slammed the Congress president for spreading falsehood on the defence deal.

Jaitley had accused the Congress party of spreading "a false campaign based on untruth" which resulted in "casting a cloud on the Inter-Governmental agreement."

Earlier, Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani had written to Rahul Gandhi over allegation regarding the Rafale fighter jet deal and said his party has been 'misinformed, misdirected and misled by malicious vested interests and corporate rivals.'

In a press conference on Wednesday, Anil said, "Have personally written to Rahul Gandhi that INC India has been mislead by vested interest & corporate rivals on Rafale Deal."

He had said that all Rafale allegations are "baseless and truth alone will triumph."