Chidambaram criticises Modi govt for refusing Rafale deal probe

Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday criticised the Narendra Modi government for refusing a probe into the Rafale deal after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley revelation former French President Francois Hollande’s statement on the choice of an offset partner.

“Truth cannot have two versions’ says Finance Minister (Jaitley). Absolutely correct. Since, according to the Finance Minister, there are two versions, what is the best way to find out which version is ‘true’?

“Either (1) order an inquiry or (2) toss a coin. I suppose the Finance Minister would prefer to toss a coin (preferably with ‘head’ on both sides).

“It is a pity that the government does not see the inexorable flow of events and refuses to order an inquiry. Who knows what will happen in six months or 12 months,” said Chidambaram in a series of tweets.

“Truth cannot have two versions,” said Jaitley on Sunday, citing Hollande’s claim to a French website that “Reliance Defence partnership with Dassault Aviation was entered at the suggestion of the Indian Government” and his subsequent statement to the AFP news agency that “he is not aware if government ever lobbied for Reliance Defence”.

A delegation of top Congress leaders met the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) on Monday and sought a probe into the alleged regurgitates in the Rafale deal announced by the Prime Minister in April 2015.

The party has already submitted a memorandum to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India Rajiv Mehrishi for a special and forensic audit into the inter-governmental deal with France to purcure 36 Rafale jets.