Only JPC can get to the root of Rafael deal: Singhvi

Accusing the BJP-led government at the Centre of corruption and misleading the Supreme Court on the Rafale deal, Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi said on Friday that only a JPC probe can get to the root of the matter.

"They are toying with national interest and security and our demand for a JPC probe is totally justified," said Singhvi. He was speaking to journalists in Kolkata on Friday.

Elaborating further on Congress' demand for a JPC probe into the Rafael deal he pointed out that the Supreme Court has made it clear in its order that it will not get into a "judicial review" of the pricing of the aircraft.

"The Supreme Court has repeatedly said that they will not conduct a judicial review of the pricing of the aircraft. This is the reason why Congress has never approached the Supreme Court on the issue and has demanded a JPC probe," said Singhvi.

He also pointed out that the price of 36 Rafael jets was fixed at Rs 18,940 crores during UPA regime but it was shot up to Rs 60,145 crore in a contract signed by the NDA government.

"So far Centre has not clarified on pricing issue," said Singhvi.

He further alleged that not only did the Centre sidelined the HAL and awarded the contract to a private corporate entity but also ignored a work-share agreement signed on March 13, 2014, between HAL and Dassault.

"Why Dassault chose a 12-day-old company with about Rs.70,000 crore debt? Was it bitten by a mad dog or lost its common sense. There is no answer to these questions so far," said Singhvi.

As for some Congress workers protesting against him for representing the DGP and ADG (Law and Order) of West Bengal police at the Calcutta High Court in the BJP's rath yatra case, Singhvi brushed aside the issue.

" Those who think that opposing a rath yatra with highly provocative inflammatory overtones is a disservice to Congress are doing a disservice to the party themselves," said Singhvi.