Rafale deal: Rahul Gandhi demands probe against PM, calls him 'corrupt person'

Congress president Rahul Gandhi Thursday demanded an investigation against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his role in the Rafale deal, alleging that he was a "corrupt man" who helped Anil Ambani pocket Rs 30,000 crore in the purchase of 36 aircraft.

He also described Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's ongoing three-day visit to France as part of a "great cover-up".

Gandhi's allegations came a day after a report in French publication that said Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of Rafale, had to choose Ambani's firm Reliance Defence as its offset partner in India as a trade-off for getting the deal.

The government has been insisting it had no role in Dassault's choice of Reliance Defence.

"The reality is that the prime minister is corrupt. The prime minister of India is a corrupt person, but he came to power on the promise of fighting corruption," Gandhi said at a press conference.

"... in the Rafale contract. the prime minister has indulged in clear cut corruption and there should be an investigation on it."
Questioning Modi's silence on the issue, he said, "It is clear there is pressure. If he is unable to respond, he should resign."
Asked about the purpose behind Sitharaman's France visit, Gandhi told reporters, "To put pressure on Dassault, to silence them and do a cover up. This is the logic."