The Supreme Court, today, has dismissed all the PILs related to the Rafale deal seeking a court-monitored investigation into the deal and has given it a clean chit. The Court said that it has not found any material to show that there has been any commercial favouritism.
During the election campaign for assembly elections in the five states, Rahul Gandhi made several outlandish comments about the Rafale deal. Although the Congress party appears to have gained electorally, the claims made in the Court by the Petitioners have fallen flat.
Earlier in November, Rahul Gandhi had challenged Prime Minister Modi to a debate on Rafale. He had also falsely claimed that the government had removed the CBI Director Alok Verma to stop him from probing the Rafale deal. At one point, the Congress President had claimed in the Lok Sabha that the French President had told him personally that there was no secrecy pact between the two countries which prevented the government from discussing the terms and price of the Rafale jets.
The French government then issued a statement which essentially proved that Rahul Gandhi lies on the floor of the Parliament. They stated that the secrecy pact was signed in 2008 (during UPA regime, AK Antony being the defence minister) whose provisions also apply to the deal of 36 Rafale aircraft and their weapons which was signed on 23rd September 2016.
Rahul Gandhi had also alleged that Reliance will benefit by US$ 4 billion, approximately the entire offset amount. Later, he added US$ 16 billion for “Rafale lifecycle Contract” that Reliance was supposed to get. In reality, no such ‘lifecycle contract’ exists. And both the figures have no basis in fact.
Not just the Congress President but other politicians jumped on the bandwagon as well.
https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1055134949785911299?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
And, of course. the politicians were helped by their friends in the media as well.
https://twitter.com/waglenikhil/status/1027601253789061122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/bainjal/status/1022788443108265984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/mkvenu1/status/1021962943188099072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/sardesairajdeep/status/1020306147364913154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/sagarikaghose/status/1020328324327976964?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Some ‘journalists’ also appeared to have been emotionally invested in the story and wanted to see a scam where there was none.
https://twitter.com/waglenikhil/status/1020216490031804416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/RifatJawaid/status/933565748537987072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/mihirssharma/status/933242595370614784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Politicians and propagandists also relied on a French NGO, Sherpa, that registered a complaint there against the Rafale deal to peddle their narrative. But, as it turned out, it has been accused previously of filing motivated lawsuits to destroy the reputation and gain media attention and funds. And as we have reported, the NGO is partners with George Soros’ Open Society, Misereor and Oxfam among others.
The French and the Indian Governments and Dassault have time and again issued clarifications on the matter. And yet, Rahul Gandhi along with his friends in the media created a narrative on the basis of half-truths and complete lies. The purpose, it appears, was winning the Assembly elections. In that, they have succeeded it appears.
We have published several articles during the course of the past few months puncturing the liberal narrative. And with today’s Supreme Court verdict on Rafale, the matter should be finally allowed to rest. But judging from their conduct thus far, it appears unlikely.