Govt Demands Apology, Cong Demands JPC Probe After Rafale Verdict

Chif Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that it is not the job of the Supreme Court to get into the pricing of the deal.

While BJP leaders said that the SC judgment has revealed the lies being spread by the Congress leadership, Congress leaders have emphasised on their demand for a JPC probe.

(Photo: The Quint)

As the Supreme Court dismissed all petitions pertaining to India’s procurement of 36 Rafale jets, saying that it finds “no irregularities” in NDA government's decision making process to purchase the aircraft from Dassault Aviation under Indo-French intergovernmental agreement.

While reading the judgment, Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that it is not the job of the Supreme Court to get into the pricing of the procurement.

Politicians associated with the ruling BJP as well as the opposition gave their views on the apex court’s judgment.

Truth Always Triumphs: BJP President Amit Shah

BJP President Amit Shah echoed what his party leaders have been saying, that the judgment on the Rafale deal has exposed the campaign of lies and misinformation spearheaded by Congress President Rahul Gandhi.

Shah also stressed on the fact that the government had no role in selecting the offset partners.

Everything Crystal Clear Since Beginning: Home Min Rajnath Singh

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the matter was crystal clear from the beginning and that the BJP has been saying that the allegations levelled by Congress were baseless and have surfaced only to gain political mileage.

“The matter was crystal clear from the beginning and we have been saying that the allegations levelled by Congress were baseless and to gain political mileage.”

Rajnath Singh, Home Minister

Singh also said that Congress President Rahul Gandhi tried to “mislead public for political benefit,” while addressing the Lok Sabha.

“He maligned Indian image globally, he should apologise to the house and to the people of the country. He thought ‘Hum to doobe hain sanam tum ko bhi le doobenge’.”

Rajnath Singh, in the parliament

Govt Seeks Apology from Rahul Gandhi

The treasury benches on Friday mounted a counter-offensive on the Opposition on the Rafale issue in Lok Sabha after the Supreme Court gave a clean chit to the deal, with the government seeking an apology from Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.

As soon as the Question Hour was taken up, Opposition members gathered, carrying placards on various issues, including alleged scam in Rafale deal.

But BJP members stood up and started raising slogans against the Congress and Gandhi.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said following the SC verdict, Rahul Gandhi should apologise.  

Amid loud sloganeering, around 11:10 AM, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House till noon.

Deal Fair, Campaigns Against It Must Stop: Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad called the deal fair and urged all campaigns against it to end.

“India needed frontline India needed frontline fighter jets. We are happy with Rafale verdict of SC. The deal was fair, all campaigns against it should end now.”

Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Law Minister.

Satyamev Jayate: Railway Minister Piyush Goyal

Railway Minister, Piyush Goyal said that this verdict exposes Rahul Gandhi’s lies. He also said that the whole nation was lied to for political mileage. He also tweeted a hashtag - #SCNailRaGaLies.

“Once again, Rahul Gandhi’s blatant lies stand exposed. Supreme Court has dismissed any probe into the Rafale Deal. The entire nation has been lied to for political mileage.”

Piyush Goyal, Railway Minister

We Continue Our Demand for JPC: Congress

The Congress reacted to the verdict saying that the Supreme Court has clearly stated that it is outside their jurisdiction to probe into the Rafale Deal, further continuing its demand for a JPC to investigate the deal. The party also said that this was not a criminal petition, for a clean chit to be given, urging the media to not spread misinformation.

Political Parties Demand JPC Prob: TMC MP Sugata Roy

Trinamool MP Saugata Roy said that the apex court did what it thought was right – in terms of the verdict – but, she said that the political parties will demand a JPC probe into the deal.

“Supreme Court said what it ‘thinks was right’ but the political parties demand a JPC probe into the Rafale deal.”

Saugata Roy, TMC MP

False Accusations Exposed: Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar

Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar told the media that the false allegations levelled by the Congress have been exposed with the SC judgment. He said that a structured response will come later as the judgment is made more clear.

Rafale Issue Will be Sorted in Parliament: Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut has agreed with the Supreme Court’s verdict. He, however, said that the pricing is not the Supreme Court’s job.

“Supreme Court has said nothing wrong, deciding on pricing is not the Supreme Court’s job. The Rafale Deal issue will be sorted out in Parliament and not in SC.”

Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena leader

SC Verdict Totally Wrong: Senior Lawyer Prashant Bhushan

Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan called the apex court’s verdict “totally wrong” and said that he will file a review petition.

“In our opinion the Supreme Court judgement is totally wrong. The campaign will certainly not drop and we will decide if we will file a review petition.”

Prashant Bhushan, Senior Lawyer

We Continue Demand for JPC: Anand Sharma

Congress leader Anand Sharma also reflected his party’s stand on the Supreme Court’s judgment.

“We continue to demand a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Rafale Deal. JPC has the right to summon all documents.”

Anand Sharma, Congress Leader

Was SC the Right Place to Fight this Battle? Asks Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir National Conference chief Omar Abdullah has expressed his doubt over the Supreme Court being the right place to fight this battle. He also said the BJP has the devil’s luck as the judgment came right after BJP’s electoral setbacks.

“Have to ask whether the SC was the right place to fight this battle? Some fights are best fought in the political arena.”

Omar Abdullah, Chairman, J&K National Conference

SC Didn’t Touch On the Main Issue of Pricing: Mallikarjun Kharge

Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge said the Supreme Court did not want to comment on the main issue, that is the pricing of the deal. He further put forward his party’s stand on a joint-parliamentary committee inquiry into the deal. He said the home minister is speaking on an incomplete judgment given on a PIL.

“Home minister is speaking on an incomplete judgment given on a PIL.”

Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress MP

SC Judgment Has Vindicated Our Stand: Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the judgment has vindicated the BJP’s stand and exposed the lies of the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi. He also said the Congress president should apologise for defaming the country.

Jyotiraditya Scindia

Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, when asked about the Rafale judgment said that it is in no way, a setback for the party.

“I don’t think this is a setback. A setback happens in the court of the public. Since the public believes that there is something fishy about this deal, we’ll bring this matter up in the house as well.”

Jyotiraditya Scindia