No talks of Rafale with Rahul Gandhi: Manohar Parrikar
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In a letter addressed to Rahul Gandhi, Parrikar wrote, 'I feel let down that you have used this visit for your petty political gains. In the five minutes you spent with me, neither did you mention anything about Rafale, now did we discuss anything related to it.'
In a counter attack to Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar accused him of using his courtesy visit to him for petty political gains.
In a letter addressed to Rahul Gandhi, Parrikar wrote, "I feel let down that you have used this visit for your petty political gains. In the five minutes you spent with me, neither did you mention anything about Rafale, now did we discuss anything related to it.'
Goa CM Manohar Parrikar writes to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, writes "I feel let down that you have used this visit for your petty political gains. In the 5 minutes you spent with me, neither did you mention anything about Rafale, now did we discuss anything related to it.' pic.twitter.com/HbUX6yiDk3
— ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2019
Parrikar's response to Rahul Gandhi came after the Congress president claimed that the former defence minister told him in a meeting that he was not consulted before his party changed the Rafale deal.
Rahul, who was on a private visit to Goa, met the Chief Minister on Tuesday.
#WATCH Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi says "Main kal Parrikar ji se mila tha. Parrikar ji ne swayam kaha tha ki deal badalte seamay PM ne Hindustan ke Defence Minister se nahi poocha tha." pic.twitter.com/adgAV0SKhU
— ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2019
He further attacked the former defence minister and said that Parrikar was trying to please PM Modi.
Rahul Gandhi: Ek taraf Parrikar ji cabinet meeting mein kehte hain ki mere paas Rafale hawai jahaz ki file padi hui hai, mujhe Goa se koi nahi hata sakta. Unka mantri journalist se telephone pe baat karta hai. Modi ji Parrikar ki khush karne ki koshish karte hain. pic.twitter.com/z6HGD5UuUy
— ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2019
Parrikar, who is suffering from a pancreatic ailment, presented a revenue surplus state budget sitting on his chair in the state Assembly, with a tube inserted through his nose.
Parrikar tabled the budget which has total gross budgetary expenditure, including power purchase of Rs 19,548.69 crore as against Rs 17,123.98 crore for 2018-19, an increase of 14.16 per cent over last year, PTI reported.
Launching a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale jet deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Wednesday alleged that he "sold" the Indian Air Force and "stole" opportunities of the youth by giving away Rs 30,000 crore to his "friend" and businessman Anil Ambani.
He said the prime minister spoke for one and a half hours in Parliament but when asked questions on Rafale, he could not look in the eye and kept looking elsewhere.
The government, as well as Ambani, have strongly denied any wrongdoing in the Rafale deal.
(With inputs from agencies)