Co-accused’s statements hold no value: Congress on Dassault CEO’s Rafale deal clarification

The Opposition Congress on Monday denounced Dassault CEO Eric Trappier’s clarification on Rafale deal saying that as per the rule of law co-accused’s statements hold now value.

In a detailed interview with ANI, the CEO of the Dassault Aviation – the French company responsible for manufacturing the Rafale aircraft – had said that the decision to choose Anil Ambani’s Reliance as one of its offset partners for the deal was taken them.

“We chose Ambani by ourselves. We already have 30 partners other than Reliance. The IAF is supporting the deal because they need the fighter jets for their own defence to be at the top,” Trappier said.

Terming Trappier’s interview “dictated” and “manufactured”, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the beneficiaries and accused can’t play the judge in their own case.

Also Read | Rafale Deal: We chose Ambani by ourselves, decreased price by 9 per cent, says Dassault CEO

“First rule of Law- Mutual Beneficiaries & co-accused's statements hold no value. Second Rule:-Beneficiaries & Accused can’t be Judge in their own case. Truth has a way of coming out.” Surjewala wrote on Twitter.

#Rafale Scam!

Nation doesn’t need ‘doctored explanations’ but ‘fair investigation’!

Fixed match between BJP Govt & Dassault and PR Stunts of PM Modi & Eric Trappier can’t hide the blatant corruption.

Our Statement-: pic.twitter.com/P4xAGiUj7z

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) November 13, 2018

The Opposition Congress and its chief Rahul Gandhi have been accusing the Modi government of helping Anil Ambani’s Reliance in getting the deal. The Congress chief has also been using the issue of Rafale deal to score political points and attack the BJP during his election rallies in poll-bound states.

On April 10, 2015, Modi had announced the deal of purchasing 36 Rafale fighter aircraft from France. The deal, however, became a headache for the Modi government after the Gandhi raised the issue of irregularities in the deal.

Also Read | Rafale Deal: CCS approval was taken, due process followed, government tells petitioners

The Modi government, however, rejected the Congress chief’s allegations and claimed that it followed the standard procedure to procure the Rafel jets and had no role to play in choosing Reliance as Dassault’s offset partner.