Rafale deal: Now, Rahul alleges Modi govt gave $20 billion benefits to Reliance Defence

It seems Congress president Rahul Gandhi is in no mood to stop attacking the Narendra Modi government over the alleged Rafale deal scam.

New Delhi, July 28: It seems Congress president Rahul Gandhi is in no mood to stop attacking the Narendra Modi government over the alleged Rafale deal scam.

Once again on Friday, Rahul attacked Prime Minister Modi and alleged that the Centre gave Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence a profit of 20 billion US Dollars (Rs 130,000 cr) in the deal for Rafale fighter jets.

The Congress president on Friday tweeted, "Dear Trolls, I apologise for my earlier tweet in which I stated Mr 56's friend's JV, received 4 Billion US Dollars' of "off set" contracts. I forgot to add the 16 Billion US Dollars RAFALE "lifecycle" contract, 20 BILLION US Dollars is the actual benefit. So Sorry!! #130000CroreRafaleScam."

On Wednesday, the 48-year-old Congress leader had also tweeted about the alleged defence scam which the Centre had strongly denied.

"Mr 56 does *love* someone after all. 1. Must wear a suit 2. Must have 45,000CR debt 3. Must have a TEN day old company. 4. Must never have made an aircraft in his life. Rewards of up to $4 billion in "off set" contracts if you fulfil said criteria," Rahul tweeted.

The Congress has been targeting the government over the fighter jet deal alleging wrongdoings in it. Calling the multi-crore Rafale jet deal "the biggest example of crony capitalism", the Congress on Friday alleged the Modi government has "compromised national interest" by helping a private entity to the tune of crores of rupees in violation of rules.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said PM Modi must give answers to the nation on the deal and his party wants him to speak on this issue in Parliament during the current monsoon session.

He alleged that the Modi government is "deceiving" the country by not giving answers about award of contract to a private player in this "mother of all defence deals".