Oppn attacks Modi on Rafale deal

The Opposition stepped up its attack on the Narendra Modi government on Rafale deal after a French NGO filed a complaint with Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday saying that the French people are now seeking justice in the case.

Rahul tweeted in Hindi, "the theft by our 'chowkidar' (guard) has put the French government in trouble. The French people are now seeking an investigation into the Rafale deal. It is not just in the streets but the whole world is reverberating with the chant that the 'chowkidar of Hindustan' is a thief."

The Congress chief, incidentally, has improvised the Opposition slogan during the late 1980s when they targeted his father Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister, over the corruption in Bofors deal.

Rahul claimed that the Rafale scam gives a glimpse of Modi's exploits.

"To rob the military, he has created a 'Mugambo'-like web of selected officers, ministers and industrialists. Those in this web are associated with Modiji and his friend-industrialists. Now several masks will fall."

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, "the screws are tightening. Is there still any doubt on corruption and wrongdoing in the Rafale deal?"

A French NGO Sherpa, which fights "economic crimes", has filed a complaint with their country's Financial Prosecutor's Office, seeking clarification on the conditions under which the deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets was signed with India as well as the choice of Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence as an offset partner by Dassault Aviation.

The complaint deals with allegations of money laundering, influence peddling and corruption.