CHANDIGARH : AICC communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala on Saturday asked the Centre why the price of the Rafale fighter aircraft had increased manifold when ‘Indiaspecific enhancements’ for it were the same as were decided during the UPA rule.
Talking to mediapersons here, Randeep, who is MLA from Kaithal, also accused the NDA government of “compromising national security” by reducing the number of aircraft under Rafale deal from 126 to 36.
While the first Rafale fighter aircraft would be delivered by September 2019, the remaining would be delivered by September 2022, he added. “With threats from Pakistan and China looming large, does it not compromise national security?” he asked.
To a question on whether the Congress would scrap or review the deal if it comes to power in 2019, he said the party would get it probed into, if this government does not constitute a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) over the issue.
CONG HALF-DAY BANDH CALL
Meanwhile, state Congress president Ashok Tanwar asked the party workers to involve people from every strata for the half-day bandh on September 10, on AICC call to protest against the alleged scam in the Rafale deal, price rise of petroleum products, demonetisation, corruption and unemployment.