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This story is from February 12, 2019

Lokpal would've made PM No. 1 accused in Rafale deal: Veerappa Moily

Continuing its attack on Narendra Modi, Congress on Monday said the PM would have been the "number one accused" in the Rafale deal had the Lokpal Act been implemented. "Now it is crystal clear why Lokpal (Act) is not being implemented," said Congress leader Veerappa Moily.
Lokpal would've made PM No. 1 accused in Rafale deal: Veerappa Moily
Congress leader Veerappa Moily (File photo)
NEW DELHI: Continuing its attack on Narendra Modi, Congress on Monday said the PM would have been the "number one accused" in the Rafale deal had the Lokpal Act been implemented.
"Now it is crystal clear why Lokpal (Act) is not being implemented. If it had been in place, the PM would be number one accused," said Congress leader Veerappa Moily while participating in discussion on interim budget in Lok Sabha.
Citing recent critical media reports on the fighter aircraft deal, the Congress member alleged that the Rafale issue has become a "household scandal" and that Modi may "escape his responsibility today but not in the days to come".
In an apparent reference to Modi's comments about his "56-inch chest", Moily said, "When bullet of corruption hits, his broad shoulders cannot bear it."
Due to this "guilty conscience", the central government has been using investigative agencies against its rivals, he alleged. "Now Rafale will fail and Rahul will win," he said, alleging the ruling government has no respect for Parliament and Constitution.
During the discussion, several other opposition members, including Thambidurai of AIADMK and Saugata Roy of Trinamool Congress raised questions regarding data on jobs, schemes to deal with agrarian crises, allocation of funds to several schemes, demonetisation and budget allocation for defence.
Citing a news report which claimed that India made "major and unprecedented" concessions including on anti-corruption penalties, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters: "Never ever in any past transactions in the last three decades, has the government dropped such mandatory clauses from a procurement contract. One thing is emerging clearly which requires investigation, which requires a joint parliamentary committee, that somebody has paid somebody in the fighter Rafale procurement."
Former Union minister P Chidambaram also questioned the deal. "No sovereign guarantee, no bank guarantee, no escrow account, yet a huge amount was paid as advance," he said on Twitter.
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