Rahul Gandhi, Francois Hollande ‘orchestrated’ to target Rafale deal: Arun Jaitley

After series of attacks by Congress President Rahul Gandhi over Rafale deal, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said that the contract for the 36 Rafale fighter jets with France irrespective of all the allegations of corruption would not be cancelled.

Jaitley in an exclusive interview to ANI, he said, “There could be a linkage between Congress President charges on the NDA government and Francois Hollande’s statement on Rafale dale. He said it is not a coincidence opposition leaders of both the countries are speaking in one voice over controversial fighter jets deal.”

Pointing out at Rahul Gandhi’s August 30 tweet in which he had said, “some bombs are going to burst in Paris in the next couple of weeks.”. Finance Minister said that the Rafale controversy seems to have been orchestrated with Hollande to target the Rafale deal and Narendra Modi government.

When asked, is he alleging opposition leaders of both the countries, Jaitley added, “I don’t know. But I see a perfect coincidence in the rhythm between his tweet on August 30 and what happens when a statement is made which is found to be inaccurate and, therefore, the next day itself, Mr Hollande goes and starts backtracking it.”

He also made it clear, he doesn’t have any proof between Hollande and Rahul Gandhi’s but he said, the timing does raise a question.

Rahul Gandhi had on August 30 tweeted: “Globalised corruption. This #Rafaleaircraft 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.”

Days later,  Francois Hollande told a French media outlet on Friday that the Indian government had proposed Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence as the India partner in the Rafale fighter jet deal and not given them a choice.

The statement has been widely used by the Congress to attack PM Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and demanded their resignation.

While addressing a press conference on Saturday after Rahul Gandhi said, “It is very important for PM now to either accept Mr. Hollande’s statement or state that Mr. Hollande is lying. He must tell us what the truth is.”

He also said,  “It is a question of the dignity of the office of Prime Minister. It is the question of the future of our jawans and the Air Force, for the first time, an ex-French President has called our PM a thief”.

Also read: Francois Hollande stands by his statement on Rafale Deal, Calls PM Modi a thief