BJP dragging defence into politics: Congress on Rafale deal

New Delhi, Sep 25 (IANS) Attacking the ruling-BJP over the controversial Rafale deal, the Congress on Tuesday said the saffron-party is dragging the Army into politics.

"We (the Congress) will never get involved in any controversy with the security forces which are supreme for us. However, the BJP is using the security forces for politics. It should not drag them into politics," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told media here.

"The duty of the defence forces is to protect the nation. The Congress did the deal on the basis of the requirements and the criteria put by the air force," he added.

He also challenged the BJP to bring the files in public domain if any of the claims by the Congress was wrong.

"If any of our claims is wrong, we challenge Modiji to bring the files in public domain. The tender was done on the basis of the demands and approvals from the Air Force," he said.

He also said the Congress did not put itself above the Air Force while doing the contract, unlike the BJP.

"We challenge the BJP to tell us the reason why they cancelled the contract of 126 jet aircraft and brought only 36," he said.

He claimed that the contract of 126 jet aircraft was done by the Congress after the same number was demanded by the Air Force.

He also asked the Prime Minister to answer why the jets ordered by the Congress in 2012 at a cost of Rs 526 crore were cancelled and the number of jets were reduced from 126 to 36.

Surjewala questioned the delivery date of the jets saying "the jets were for emergency purchase and even then the dates of delivery is set for 2022".

The Congress chief spokesperson asked why the offset contract was snatched from a government firm and given to a private company.

"The Congress has not given the contract to a private firm unlike you, but to a government company," he said.