A day after Rahul Gandhi’s Rafale remarks, Goa CM Manohar Parrikar questions ‘sincerity’ of visit, says he never mentioned Rafale in their ‘five-minute’ meeting.
New Delhi: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Wednesday accused Congress President Rahul Gandhi of “stooping low” in using his visit “to an ailing person to feed political opportunism”.
Parrikar was responding to Gandhi’s statements on 29 January that the former defence minister had told him that he had nothing to do with the Rafale deal.
“Reading media reports covering your visit to my office has caused me distress,” reads the letters written by Parrikar to the Congress president. “It is reported in the media today that you said quoting me that I was nowhere in the process of procuring Rafale nor did I have any information then about it.”
The former defence minister asserted that he never even mentioned Rafale during the discussion. He also underlined that the deal for the 36 Rafale fighters was as per the Defence Procurement Procedure.
“In the 05 minutes that you spent with me, neither did you mention anything about Rafale nor did we discuss anything about/related to it,” Parrikar has said.
Goa CM Manohar Parrikar writes to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, writes “I feel let down that you have used this visit for your petty political gains. In the 5 minutes you spent with me, neither did you mention anything about Rafale, now did we discuss anything related to it.’ pic.twitter.com/HbUX6yiDk3
— ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2019
‘Gandhi using visit for petty political gains’
He has added that he “feels let down” that Gandhi used the visit for “petty political gains”.
“Paying a courtesy visit and then stooping so low for making a false statement for political gain, has raised in my mind, questions about the sincerity and purpose of your visit itself,” Parrikar has written.
Taking it further, he has said that he is fighting a “life-threatening” illness and that he thought Gandhi’s visit would give him good wishes in serving the people of Goa.
“Little did I know that you had other intentions,” the letter reads. “With deep disappointment, I write to you hoping that you would put out the truth. Kindly do not use your visit to an ailing person to feed political opportunism.”
Also read: Rahul Gandhi calls on Manohar Parrikar, discusses Delhi pollution, not Rafale jets
Gandhi’s remarks spark row
Gandhi, who had met Parrikar in Goa Tuesday, had made the remarks in Kochi later in the day. “The ex-defence minister Parrikar clearly stated that he has nothing to do with the new deal that was orchestrated by Narendra Modi to benefit Anil Ambani,” he told a Congress gathering in Kochi.
BJP President Amit Shah tweeted the letter and accused Gandhi of being insensitive by “lying” in the name of a person fighting a disease.
Dear Rahul Gandhi, you showed how insensitive you are, by lying in the name of a person fighting a disease.
The people of India are disgusted by your reckless behaviour.
In his trademark style, @manoharparrikar ji sets the record straight. https://t.co/ok4GN8I6yS
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 30, 2019
Ailing man doesn’t mind holding on to CM seat despite serious ailment, but objects to political opponent’s opportunistic behaviour. Pure hypocrisy.
1. It is clear that Congress President Rahul Gandhi wishes to use his meeting with an ailing former Defence Minister to further his political agenda. Rahul Gandhi has every right to criticize NDA government and PM Shri Narendra Modi in context of the decision to acquire Rafale aircrafts. But he cannot use a courtesy meet with an ailing minister to score political points. 2. I say that the Rafale aircrafts deal is just one instance of alleged corruption in defence deals. My question in this regard is very simple: Do Congress & other opposition parties wish that corruption in all fields, including defence deals, be curbed? Or they just wish to be in power by making allegations of corruption and win over gullible voters? 3. Citizens like me are not sure that the Congress President is really against corruption. Citizens would like to know from Rahul Gandhi what the Congress led government would do about Rafale aircrafts deal, assuming that UPA govt. comes to power after 2019 Lok Sabha election. Would the Rafale deal be renegotiated, would it be cancelled, would those who are responsible in NDA government be tried for misuse of power? Let us know answer to these questions in very clear and unambiguous terms; it is responsibility of Rahul Gandhi to respond to questions from citizens like me.
I consider Parrikar to be far more honest than Rahul Gandhi. The incidence demonstrates that Rahul Gandhi is suffering from an incurable disease known as Rafalophobia. He sees nothing beyond Rafale deal and in the process he has spoiled his party’s prospects in Goa. His political reputation in Goa is ruined.
In fact the Modi government and its “blinded” well wishers are suffering from a “fear” or a “phobia”, called RAFALEPHOBIA. If not, then why can’t they constitute a JPC to clear the air? Remember, the Congress government did constitute a JPC on Bofors. If Modi government is not afraid, then why so far the CAG report hasn’t been submitted to PAC, when nearly two months back it was told to the Supreme Court in a confusing manner that CAG and PAC had already gotten into the loop?
Will Mr Modi EVER, EVER be able to explain why Anil Ambani was chosen over HAL as well as other credible defence manufacturers like L & T?
Without trying to hide behind the emotional slant of being unwell, will Mr Manohar Parrikar explain why he, as the defense minister of India wasn’t involved in the decision of 36 planes and Anil Ambani?
What is merely Rafalephobia for some people now, will grow into a full-scale 70 mm RAFALE NIGHTMARE for them after the elections. “Misusing official power for private satisfaction to the extent of putting national security in jeopardy, and severely depleting national funds for private satisfaction” — can this be made into a case of treason?
Petty political gains? The deal is worth Rs 59,000 crores and the person suspected is none other than the Prime Minister of the country. Stakes involved, India’s international image and citizen’s Democratic Trust in the elected Government. When an ailing person sets about emotionalizing entire episode to show his political rival in a bad light instead of clearing the air as to wht his role was vis-a-vis Rafale deal and play victimhood, it testifies as to how irrelevant the make-believe political curtesies when it comes to realpolitik. When ailment does not come in the way of blame-game, Parriker’s grouse is clearly misplaced and greatly exaggerated.