Huge win for Modi government, ‘No proof of commercial favouritism in Rafale deal’- says SC

The Rafale Deal drama by Congress has finally come to an end. The Supreme Court said today in massive validation for the government, which has been repeatedly accused by the Congress of corruption in the Rs 59,000-Cr deal for 36 days. SC said that there is no doubt the decision-making process behind the Rafale jet deal.

According to SC, petitions alleging that the Modi government had gone for an overpriced deal to help Anil Ambani’s company bag an offset contract with jet-maker Dassault also didn’t wash with the top court, which dismissed the need for a probe. SC further said, ‘There is no evidence of commercial favouritism to any private entity.’

Here is what SC said-

• A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, ‘Having heard the matter in detail, we find no reason for any intervention by this court on the sensitive issue. Perception of individuals cannot be the basis of a fishing and roving enquiry by this court, especially in such matters.’
• Backing the deal, the court said the country cannot afford to be unprepared or underprepared in a situation where our advisories are stated to have acquired not only 4^th Generation but even 5^th Generation Aircrafts, of which we have none.
• The judged said the need for the aircraft was not in doubt. ‘We cannot sit in judgement over the wisdom of deciding to go in for a purchase of 36 aircraft in place of 126. We cannot possibly compel the Government to go in for the purchase of 126 aircraft.’ Court said.
• The judges also accepted the government’s argument on keeping pricing confidential. ‘It is certainly not the job of this court to carry out a comparison of the pricing details in matters like the present. We say no more as the material has to be kept in a confidential domain.’

 Congress rejected the Supreme Court’s order

The Congress rejected the court order, saying it was based on false claims by the government. ‘We will continue to demand a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe the deal.’ said Congress leader and former minister Anand Sharma.

After the SC’s Judgement, BJP chief Amit Shah said, ’Truth always prevails’ and called for an apology by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who repeatedly targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Rafale deal while campaigning for the recent state elections.