AAP MP Sanjay Singh wants issue to be discussed in Parliament, says curative petition remains an option.
New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh Friday demanded that a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) be set up to look into the Rafale fighter jet deal.
Singh was one of the petitioners seeking a court-monitored probe into the controversial deal. The plea was dismissed by the Supreme Court Friday.
The AAP leader said the party will keep pushing for an investigation into the alleged scam, if not by the Supreme Court, then by the “janata ki adaalat (people’s court)”.
“Of course, the government won’t accept that there is a ghotala (scam) in the Rafale deal,” Singh told ThePrint. “We want the issue to be raised in Parliament, especially now that Amit Shah has said that the government is open to it. I want that a JPC should be set up,” Singh added.
‘BJP celebration shows hypocrisy’
Singh said that no decision has been taken yet on challenging the court’s ruling, but a curative petition remains an option.
The AAP MP termed the BJP’s celebration of the verdict a testament to its “hypocrisy”.
“When it comes to Sabarimala, Amit Shah openly said that the party won’t accept the Supreme Court’s decision. Same with the Ram Mandir issue,” Singh said, adding. “But when they took a decision in their favour, they are clapping away to glory. This is their dual character, they have no faith in the constitutional authorities.”
The apex court’s decision that it is not authorised to look into the deal has provided much-needed relief to the BJP-led central government and is being viewed as a massive setback for the Congress.
Also read: Congress sticks to demand for Parliamentary probe into Rafale deal even after SC verdict
Mission 2019
Not dismissing the possibility of a tie-up with the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha election in 2019, Singh said that no decision has been taken yet.
“The mahagathbandhan meeting was to discuss various issues like farm distress, unemployment and electronic voter machines,” said Singh, referring to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s presence at a recent event which is being viewed as a sign that he might join the grand alliance of opposition parties.
“Are we entering into an election alliance, hasn’t been decided yet (sic),” said Singh.
Singh, who is also a member of the AAP’s political affairs committee, asserted that the party will win all seven seats in Delhi because of its work in the education and health sectors.
“Other than Delhi, we will be focusing on Punjab, Haryana and Goa. Wherever else we can fight elections, we will,” said Singh.
Also read: Individual perception can’t be basis of fishing enquiry: What Supreme Court said on Rafale deal