Pune: ”Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that result would have been different if we had Rafale jets is insulting Indian Air force (IAF) and politicising issue with comments on Rafale,” said Prithviraj Chavan, former Minister of State of Prime Minister Office (PMO), in Pune on Monday. He was speaking at a press conference at Congress Bhavan.
Chavan said, “Prime Minister Modi’s statement is admitting that we lost the war and they are not satisfied with IAF’s action. It is a shameful statement. They should apologise to the country. Modi should not have raised the Rafale issue. However, he has deliberately did it and politicised it. We didn’t want to do it, Modi himself did it. They wanted to point out that Congress delayed the Rafale deal. However, it is not true. National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and Modi government is responsible for the delay. BJP’s five years and NDA government’s three years means the Rafale deal was delayed by eight years.”
He alleged, ”Modi has delayed the deal because he wanted to give offset contract to Anil Ambani. Therefore, he reduced numbers of jets from 136 units to 30. Now, the Union government has floated a tender to purchase more than 106 aircrafts. Recently, Adani has made an agreement with Swedish Aerospace Company who is producing Gripen fighter planes. Now, everyone know who will get the tender.”
He pointed out that the international media is asking questions regarding the air strike. He said, ”We are ready to believe the government. But, now international media wants proof. If we want the world to believe, the government must make the effort not to indulge in opposition-bashing.”
He said, “During the Balakot air strike, we used Israeli ‘SPICE bomb’ which is so precise that we have to set target through GPS. Now, our government is not giving any proof. That means our ground intelligence and RAW had failed to provide accurate information.”
At a rally on Sunday Modi had also questioned the opposition over their February 27 resolution expressing “deep anguish” over the ruling party’s “blatant politicisation” of the sacrifices by the armed forces. “When the country needed to speak in one voice, 21 opposition parties gathered in Delhi to adopt a resolution condemning us. They are demanding proof from the armed forces for their act of bravery,” he stated.
Within Congress party or an outsider ?
Chavan refused to give comment whether there is outside party candidate for Pune Lok Sabha seat. He smiled when asked about whether there will be a Congress or outside candidate for Pune Lok Sabha seat. He said, “ I took opinion of 21 city-based congress leader on the Pune Lok Sabha Candidate and sent report to high command. Now, they will take final decision.” After Chavan’s statement on Pune Lok sabha seat, suspense continues.
