Dehradun: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday blamed the previous Congress-led governments for the “delay” in getting the Rafale military aircraft, saying the party sat on the deal as it was eyeing kickbacks. Launching the BJP’s poll campaign in Uttarakhand from Rudrapur, the prime minister said the Congress cared more for “malai” (commission) than national security.
He pitched the BJP as the party that stood for the armed forces, saying the Congress governments cared little for what they sought – modern weapons, bullet-proof jackets and the one rank, one pension scheme that his own government has implemented. He said the deal for the French military aircraft was mooted during the term of Atal Bihari Vajpayee government but the following Congress-led governments of delayed the acquisition.
“They sat on it for 10 years because they were not getting the “malai,” he charged at the Rudrapur rally. The Congress has criticised the new Rafale deal signed by the Modi government, claiming it is costlier and there is corruption involved.
The Bharatiya Janata Party and the government have repeatedly rejected the charge. Modi also referred to the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal signed by the Congress government, saying alleged middleman Christian Michel is now spilling the beans in court.
