Amid Rafale row, Rahul Gandhi to meet HAL employees in Bengaluru today

Stepping up his attack against the Narendra Modi government over the controversial Rafale deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday will meet Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) employees.

The interaction between Gandhi and HAL employees is scheduled to take place at 3:00 pm. During the interaction, the Gandhi scion will speak on how the Modi government “favoured” Anil Ambani's Reliance over experienced HAL in the Rafale deal.

Also Read | Rafale Deal: Rahul Gandhi demands probe against 'corrupt' PM Modi

"HAL is India's strategic asset. The future of India's aerospace industry has been destroyed by snatching #Rafale from HAL & gifting it to Anil Ambani. Come, defend the dignity of India's defenders. I am in Bengaluru to stand with HAL’s employees. Join me outside HAL HQ, at 3 PM," Gandhi tweeted.

HAL is India's strategic asset. The future of India's aerospace industry has been destroyed by snatching #Rafale from HAL & gifting it to Anil Ambani.

Come defend the dignity of India's defenders. I am in Bengaluru to stand with HAL’s employees. Join me outside HAL HQ, at 3 PM. pic.twitter.com/FzfVGZ17Z6

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 13, 2018

Although the HAL has reportedly advised its employees to stay away from the event, a few of them, including some retired workers, are expected to meet the Congress president.

Gandhi has been alleging that the Modi government overlooked state-run aerospace major HAL and favoured Anil Ambani’s Reliance defence to become the offshore partner of the Dassault Aviation, the company responsible for making Rafale fighter aircraft for India.

Referring to a recent expose by a senior executive of Dassault Aviation that it was mandatory to choose the Reliance as the Indian partner for the deal, Gandhi said that there was a clear-cut case of “corruption” against Modi and demanded a probe against him.

Also Read | Rafale Deal: Supreme Court asks Centre to provide details of decision-making process in sealed cover

The Congress chief has also been claiming grave irregularities in the deal, saying that the Modi government was paying Rs 1,670 crore for each aircraft against Rs 526 crore finalised by the UPA government in 2012.