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Rafale Files Went Missing Just Like 2 Crore Jobs For Youth, MSP For Farmers: Rahul Gandhi

"I’m very proud that the media have the guts to stand against Narendra Modi,” Rahul Gandhi said.
ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW DELHI – Accusing the government of manipulating institutions to “save” Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rafale deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Thursday said it has spoken of investigating the media over the theft of Rafale documents but has not probed those involved in the “scam of over Rs 30,000 crore”.

The Congress chief took a dig at the government, saying the documents have disappeared from the defence ministry like two crore jobs for youths, right price for farmers’ produces and the promised 15 lakh for everybody.

At a press conference on Thursday, Gandhi accused the prime minister of performing a “bypass surgery” in the purchase of the fighter aircraft for corruption, including benefiting businessman Anil Ambani.

“Investigate everyone but probe Modi as well,” he said.

In defence ministry files, it is written that the Prime Minister’s Office carried out parallel negotiations in the fighter jet deal, then why can’t the PM be investigated, he asked.

“If PM is not guilty, why doesn’t he himself agree for an investigation? Why did he refuse to form a Joint Parliamentary Committee?” Gandhi asked.

“The problem in India is, there is a criminal investigation only on people who oppose PM Modi,” the Congress president said.

On Wednesday, Attorney General KK Venugopal had told the Supreme Court that the government may file a criminal case against The Hindu newspaper under India’s Official Secrets Act for publishing “stolen” government documents about the Rafale deal.

“Media is being punished because they are being brave. I’m very proud that they have the guts to stand against Narendra Modi,” the Congress President said.

The government has constantly rejected the allegations levelled by the Congress with the BJP accusing Gandhi of spreading lies to torpedo the Rafale deal due to his vested interests. Ambani has also rejected corruption allegations.

Targeting Modi, Gandhi said the files have disappeared in the same way as jobs did following demonetisation and implementation of the GST.

Hitting back at Modi for calling the Congress a “poster boy” following the Balakot air strike, Gandhi said “it is he who is Pakistan’s poster boy, not us” as he noted that the Modi government has got Pakistan spy agency ISI in India to probe the Pathankot terror attack.

Modi had also invited then Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif to attend his swearing in and then went to the country to meet him as well, he said.

(With PTI inputs)

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.