'Don't use ailing person for political opportunism': Full text of Manohar Parrikar's letter to Rahul Gandhi

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi for stating that he was not involved in the new Rafale deal. The ailing chief minister said that he feel let down that the Congress president used the meeting for his petty political gains. Questioning the purpose of visit, Parrikar said that he thought Rahul’s visit would give him good wishes in the cause of serving people but had no idea about his other intention. Expressing disappoitment over Rahul Gandhi's comments, Parrikar also asked the Congress president to put out the truth.

Here's the full text of Manohar Parrikar's letter to Rahul Gandhi:

Dear Shri Rahul Gandhi,

Yesterday i.e. on 29th January 2019, without any prior information, you called on me and enquired me about my health condition. We have a healthy political tradition in India to rise above bipartisan considerations and wish even opponents a quick recovery from any ailments. I received your visit in that spirit, fighting as I am, with good medical care, a severe ailment. I appreciate your kind gesture.

However, reading media reports covering your visit to my office has cause me distress. It is reported in the media today that you have said quoting me that I was nowhere in the process of procuring Rafale nor did I have any information then about it. I feel let down that you have used this visit for your petty political gains. In the 05 minutes you spent with me, neither did you mention anything about Rafale, nor did we discuss anything about/related to it. Nothing whatsoever about Rafale was even mentioned in your meeting with me.

The Inter Government Agreement(IGA) and the procurement of Rafale are as per defence Procurement Procedure. I have said this before and wish to reiterate it again in today's context too. The fighter aircraft are procured following all stated procedures keeping national security as top priority.

Paying a courtesy visit and then stooping so low as to make a false statement for petty political gain has raised, in my mind, questions about the sincerity and purpose of your visit itself.

Here am I fighting against a life-threatening illness. Due to my training and ideological strength. I wish to serve Goa and its people against any/all odds. I thought your visit would give me your good wishes in that cause of serving our people. Little did I know that you had other intentions.

With deep disappointment, I write to you hoping that you would put out the truth. Kindly do not use your visit to an ailing person to feed political opportunism.

I remain in the service of the people of Goa and India.

With warm regards,
Manohar Parrikar