Congress’s Randeep Surjewala says ‘Narendra Modi acted as Anil Ambani’s middleman in Rafale deal’ 

Randeep Singh Surjewala.

The Congress, in a fresh attack over the Rafale deal, alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi acted as a “middleman” for Anil Ambani. This new statement from the Congress came after a Le Monde report, in which it alleged that French authorities waived off taxes worth €143.7 million to favour Ambani’s telecom company Reliance FLAG Atlantic France SAS (RFAF). 

The report says the taxes were waived a few months after Modi announced that India would purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets from France’s Dassault Aviation. Dassault picked Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence as an offset partner in the production of the 36 jets ordered by India, despite Reliance Defence having no experience in the aeroplane-manufacturing sector.

Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said, “PM Modi is acting as middle man for Anil Ambani. How many other companies in France have got a tax benefit? Is this not a quid pro quo for the purchase of aircraft? It is clear ‘ek hi chowkidar chor hai’ (only one watchman is the thief).”

Surjewala said that layers of corruption and money trail have been disclosed.

Ambani’s Reliance group responded after the Congress spokesman’s remarks and denied any wrongdoing. It said the group “denies any favouritism or gain” from the RFAF’s tax settlement with France. It said RFAF settled disputes “as per legal framework in France”, which is available to all companies operating the country.

Full video of Randeep Singh Surjewala on Le Monde report and Rafale deal:

Related