Cong links Rafale deal to delay in setting up Lokpal

The Congress upped the ante on the Modi government over the Rafale deal on Tuesday, saying the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue showed why the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal was not constituted during his tenure.

The Congress also asked the prime minister to come out with the truth in the case and bring 'sachhe din' (day of truth) at least, instead of the promised 'achhe din' (good days) that never came.

It also said that the ruling party, instead of coming out with the truth in the Rafale deal, was resorting to abuse and mud-slinging and asked Modi whether he was "(Reliance Defence chief) Ambani's PM or the country's prime minister".

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is in his Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, said more facts on the Rafale fighter deal will be out soon, while telling the youth there that they lost jobs as a related contract went to the Reliance Group rather than the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) which has a unit here.

"This is the beginning," he told reporters in Amethi, and "the truth will be before you and you can judge".

Reminding his constituents that a HAL unit was located in Amethi district, he repeated the charge that the Rafale deal's offset contract "wrongly" went to Anil Ambani's Reliance group instead of the public sector HAL.

"The youth should understand that employment opportunities have been snatched from HAL and from you all," he said.

Targeting the prime minister, Gandhi said Modi had claimed he wanted to be the country 'chowkidar' (watchman). "But he put Rs 30,000 crore in Ambani's pocket."