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

A day after former French President Francois Hollande made it clear that Narendra Modi led BJP Government chose Anil Ambani as India partner in Rafale deal and not given them a choice, Congress president Rahul Gandhi trained his gun at PM Modi and Anil Ambani and accused them of carrying out a hundred and thirty thousands crore surgical strike on the Indian Defence forces.

Rahul Gandhi on Friday had said that PM Modi has betrayed India and dishonoured the blood of our soldiers. As he personally negotiated and changed the Rafale deal behind closed doors. Rahul Gandhi also thanked French President Francois Hollande. Who had told a French website, Mediapart that his government was not given a choice in selecting a local partner for Dassault Aviation.

“Former French president calls our PM a thief… What is staggering is that the Prime Minister is still silent on it. Not a single word from him,” said Rahul Gandhi while addressing a press conference this afternoon.

“It is very important for PM Modi, now to either accept Mr Hollande’s statement or state that Mr Hollande is lying and tell what the truth is,” he added.

Congress spokesperson Randip Singh Surjewala also tweeted on Rafale deal.

सफ़ेद झूठ का पर्दाफ़ाश हुआ,
सच्चाई हुई जग-ज़ाहिर।

फ़्रान्स के राष्ट्रपति ने किया भंडाफोड़ – सरकारी कम्पनी, HAL से ₹30,000 करोड़ का #Rafale ठेका छिन मोदी सरकार ने दिलवाया था अपने चहेते उद्योगपती मित्र को।

अब साफ़ है – चौकीदार, सिर्फ़ भागीदार नहीं, असली गुनहगार है। pic.twitter.com/Vyk8sP8df8

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) September 21, 2018

Congress official Twitter handles also posted a tweet, reading, Former President of France François Hollande exposes the web of lies spun by the Modi Government. The Modi Govt compelled Dassault to tie up with the Reliance group.

Former President of France François Hollande exposes the web of lies spun by the Modi Govt. The Modi Govt compelled Dassault to tie up with the Reliance group.https://t.co/lXdYIL0VAr#ModiRafaleLiesExposed pic.twitter.com/DLyvGjNAeD

— Congress (@INCIndia) September 21, 2018

Taking an opportunity to raise questions, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked a questioned on Rafale deal, is Modi govt not endangering national security?  He also said, Former French President’s statement directly contradicts what Modi govt had been saying so far. He further asked, can the country be taken for a ride any further?

However, later, the French government issued a statement and denied the claims of not given the choice to select Indians firms for the contract. The statement also reads it was not involved in any manner in the choice of Indian industrial partners for the Rafale deal.

In an exclusive quote to NDTV, Hollande office reportedly told that, Hollande stands by his statement on Rafale deal.

Breaking: Hollande office tells @ndtv it stands by his statement on #rafale

— Suparna Singh (@Suparna_Singh) September 22, 2018

Also read: Rahul Gandhi attacks PM Modi says ‘Rafale a Rs 1.3 Lakh cr surgical strike on Defence forces’