Rafale deal is a surgical strike on defence forces: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi led a blistering Congress attack on Narendra Modi on Saturday as he reiterated that the Prime Minister had “betrayed India’s soul” after former French President Francois Hollande’s remarks contradicted the Indian government’s stand on the Rafale deal.

“The PM and Anil Ambani jointly carried out a One Hundred & Thirty Thousand Crore, SURGICAL STRIKE on the Indian Defence forces. Modi Ji you dishonoured the blood of our martyred soldiers. Shame on you. You betrayed India’s soul,” he tweeted. He arrived at the mammoth figure by adding the value of offset contracts, saying the actual benefit due to the deal is of USD 20 billion, equivalent to Rs 1,30,000 crore. The Congress chief has repeatedly targeted the PM and defence minister Nirmala Sithraman over the fighter aircraft deal, demanding their resignation over alleged corruption and cronyism. Modi had announced the procurement of a batch of 36 Rafale jets for Rs 58,000 crore after holding talks with then French President Hollande on April 10, 2015, in Paris. “The PM personally negotiated & changed the Rafale deal behind closed doors. Thanks to François Hollande, we now know he personally delivered a deal worth billions of dollars to a bankrupt Anil Ambani. The PM has betrayed India. He has dishonoured the blood of our soldiers,” Gandhi had said on Friday.