Shah slams Congress over Rafale, says 'Time could've been utilised for people's welfare'

Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday called the Supreme Court verdict on Rafale deal a befitting reply to the leaders and parties who rely on a "malicious and baseless" campaign and sought apology from them. Shah further asserted that the time disrupted in the Parliament over Rafale was a 'sham' and that it could have been 'utilised for the welfare of people.' The home minister said Thursday's order of the Supreme Court has yet again reaffirmed the PM Modi government's credentials as a government that is transparent and corruption-free.

Amit Shah said, "Now, it has been proved that disruption of Parliament over Rafale was a sham. The time could have been better utilised for the welfare of people. After today's rebuke from SC, Congress and its leader, for whom politics is above national interest must apologise to the nation." [sic]

"Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss the review petition on Rafale is a befitting reply to those leaders and parties who rely on malicious and baseless campaigns. Today’s decision, yet again, reaffirms Modi sarkar’s credentials as a govt which is transparent and corruption-free," he added. 

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The Congress party ran an aggressive campaign prior to the Lok Sabha 2019 elections against the multi-billion dollar deal to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France. During the protests, the opposition parties disrupted the proceedings of both houses of Parliament for days together. On Thursday, despite the Supreme Court's verdict, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said that Justice KM Joseph has left open a "huge door" for an investigation into the Rafale deal and demanded that a probe must begin in full earnest. He also called for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the fighter jet contract.

Rafale Verdict 

The Supreme Court on Thursday gave clean chit to the Modi government on the purchase of 36 fully loaded Rafale fighter jets from French company Dassault Aviation, rejecting the plea for registration of an FIR by the CBI for alleged commission of cognisable offence in the deal.

The apex court dismissed the pleas seeking review of the December 14, 2018 verdict in which it had said that there was no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets.

(with PTI inputs) 

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