<p>Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/feel-let-down-that-you-have-used-this-visit-for-your-petty-political-gains-manohar-parrikar-responds-to-rahul-gandhis-accusations-193906">Lok Sabha today that the Opposition</a> was "flogging a dead horse" over the Rafale deal after Congress president Rahul Gandhi alleged the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) was directly involved in conducting negotiations with the French side on the Rafale deal.</p>

<p>Ex-defence secretary G Mohan Kumar who at the time handled negotiations on Rafale, told newswire ANI that whatever has been brought out by media reports had nothing to do with the pricing issue.</p>

<p>"It was about sovereign guarantees and general terms and conditions," G Mohan Kumar said.</p>

<p>Sitharaman in a statement in the Lok Sabha said: "They are flogging a dead horse. Periodical enquiries by the PMO cannot be construed as interference."</p>

<p>The Congress-led Opposition had disrupted the lower house of Parliament after a report claimed the then defence secretary had objected to the PMO allegedly conducting price negotiations with the French company.</p>

<p>Sitharaman said the Opposition was playing into the hands of multinational companies and vested interests and not working in the interests of the Indian Air Force.</p>

<p>Sitharaman said ex-defence minister Manohar Parrikar had replied to the letter asking the official to remain "calm" as everything was "alright".</p>

<p>India's defence minister alleged that the then chairperson of the National Advisory Council Sonia Gandhi used to run the PMO regularly during the UPA regime.</p>

<p>"Was that not interference?," she asked.</p>

<p>India's upper house of Parliament the Rajya Sabha was also disrupted after Congress sought to raise the Rafale issue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad raised the issue but chairman M Venkaiah Naidu disallowed the Congress leader asserting that&nbsp;he had reserved the&nbsp;final judgement on the notice by Congress members under Rule 267 on the issue.</p>

<p>Rule 267 provides for setting aside the business of the day to discuss the issue being raised.</p>

<p>Vice-president Naidu adjourned the proceedings till Monday after continued Opposition protests.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in Lok Sabha today that the Opposition was "flogging a dead horse" over the Rafale deal after Congress president Rahul Gandhi alleged the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) was directly involved in conducting negotiations with the French side on the Rafale deal.

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in Lok Sabha today that the Opposition was "flogging a dead horse" over the Rafale deal after Congress president Rahul Gandhi alleged the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) was directly involved in conducting negotiations with the French side on the Rafale deal. Ex-defence secretary G Mohan Kumar who at the time handled negotiations on Rafale, told newswire ANI that whatever has been brought out by media reports had nothing to do with the pricing issue. "It was about sovereign guarantees and general terms and conditions," G Mohan Kumar said. Sitharaman in a statement in the Lok Sabha said: "They are flogging a dead horse. Periodical enquiries by the PMO cannot be construed as interference." The Congress-led Opposition had disrupted the lower house of Parliament after a report claimed the then defence secretary had objected to the PMO allegedly conducting price negotiations with the French company. Sitharaman said the Opposition was playing into the hands of multinational companies and vested interests and not working in the interests of the Indian Air Force. Sitharaman said ex-defence minister Manohar Parrikar had replied to the letter asking the official to remain "calm" as everything was "alright". India's defence minister alleged that the then chairperson of the National Advisory Council Sonia Gandhi used to run the PMO regularly during the UPA regime. "Was that not interference?," she asked. India's upper house of Parliament the Rajya Sabha was also disrupted after Congress sought to raise the Rafale issue. Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad raised the issue but chairman M Venkaiah Naidu disallowed the Congress leader asserting that he had reserved the final judgement on the notice by Congress members under Rule 267 on the issue. Rule 267 provides for setting aside the business of the day to discuss the issue being raised. Vice-president Naidu adjourned the proceedings till Monday after continued Opposition protests.

Opposition flogging a dead horse, says Sitharaman after uproar in Parliament over Rafale

<p>National Commission for Women(NCW) <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rafael-deal-was-done-with-national-security-as-a-priority-nirmala-sitharaman-188252">today sent&nbsp;a notice</a> to Congress president Rahul Gandhi after he said&nbsp;at a rally in Jaipur that PM Modi had made a woman defend him in Parliament over the Rafale deal, referring to defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">National Commission for Women (NCW) issues notice to Congress President Rahul Gandhi over his statement "PM ran away &amp; asked a 'mahila' (Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman) to defend him" <a href="https://t.co/xTAyqNeXg1">pic.twitter.com/xTAyqNeXg1</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1083239622916886529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>PM Modi hit back at a rally in Agra over&nbsp;Congress president's statement asserting that it was an "insult to all women in the country."</p>

<p>"They are bent upon insulting a woman defence minister," he said, without naming Rahul Gandhi.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/NCWIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NCWIndia</a> will be sending a notice to <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RahulGandhi</a> regarding the statement in question. <a href="https://twitter.com/nsitharaman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nsitharaman</a> <a href="https://t.co/tJc6hzsdpF">https://t.co/tJc6hzsdpF</a></p>
— NCW (@NCWIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/NCWIndia/status/1082982924851527680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>"This is not an insult to a woman, but an insult to entire India's women power, for which these irresponsible leaders will have to pay the price," the prime minister had said.</p>

<p>Rekha Sharma, chairperson NCW said: What is Rahul Gandhi trying to imply with his misogynistic statement? Does he think women are weak? The irony - calling an accomplished defence minister of the largest democracy a weak person."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What is <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rahulgandhi</a> trying to imply with his misogynistic statement- “... ek mahila say kaha meri raksha kiijiye."? Does he think women are weak? The irony- calling an accomplished defence minister of the largest democracy a weak person. <a href="https://twitter.com/nsitharaman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nsitharaman</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NCWIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ncwindia</a></p>
— rekha sharma (@sharmarekha) <a href="https://twitter.com/sharmarekha/status/1082981959381471234?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman had attacked Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha during the Rafael deal declaring that he had lied about meeting French president Macron about the deal.</p>

<p>"We've asked explanation from Rahul Gandhi why he said what he said yesterday in his tweets. The statement was pathetic, sexist and misogynistic. That's why we've sent him a notice. He has to explain what does he mean when he is trying to talk low of women," Rekha Sharma said.</p>

<p>During the debate in Parliament, Sitharaman had said&nbsp;that it was a matter of “shame” that the Congress president was misleading the country on the Rafael issue. Sitharaman asked Rahul to apologise to the country from the floor of the House.</p>

<p>Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had alleged that the defence minister had “lied” in Parliament that government orders worth Rs one lakh crore were provided to HAL while demanding that she should either place the documents in support of her statement in the House or resign.</p>

<p>Sitharaman told the Lok Sabha in a heated reply that "doubts raised" over her statement on HAL contracts were "incorrect and misleading."</p>


National Commission for Women(NCW) today sent a notice to Congress president Rahul Gandhi after he said at a rally in Jaipur that PM Modi had made a woman defend him in Parliament over the Rafale deal, referring to defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

National Commission for Women(NCW) today sent a notice to Congress president Rahul Gandhi after he said at a rally in Jaipur that PM Modi had made a woman defend him in Parliament over the Rafale deal, referring to defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman. National Commission for Women (NCW) issues notice to Congress President Rahul Gandhi over his statement "PM ran away & asked a 'mahila' (Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman) to defend him" pic.twitter.com/xTAyqNeXg1 — ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2019 × PM Modi hit back at a rally in Agra over Congress president's statement asserting that it was an "insult to all women in the country." "They are bent upon insulting a woman defence minister," he said, without naming Rahul Gandhi. .@NCWIndia will be sending a notice to @RahulGandhi regarding the statement in question. @nsitharaman https://t.co/tJc6hzsdpF — NCW (@NCWIndia) January 9, 2019 × "This is not an insult to a woman, but an insult to entire India's women power, for which these irresponsible leaders will have to pay the price," the prime minister had said. Rekha Sharma, chairperson NCW said: What is Rahul Gandhi trying to imply with his misogynistic statement? Does he think women are weak? The irony - calling an accomplished defence minister of the largest democracy a weak person." What is @rahulgandhi trying to imply with his misogynistic statement- “... ek mahila say kaha meri raksha kiijiye."? Does he think women are weak? The irony- calling an accomplished defence minister of the largest democracy a weak person. @nsitharaman @narendramodi @ncwindia — rekha sharma (@sharmarekha) January 9, 2019 × Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman had attacked Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha during the Rafael deal declaring that he had lied about meeting French president Macron about the deal. "We've asked explanation from Rahul Gandhi why he said what he said yesterday in his tweets. The statement was pathetic, sexist and misogynistic. That's why we've sent him a notice. He has to explain what does he mean when he is trying to talk low of women," Rekha Sharma said. During the debate in Parliament, Sitharaman had said that it was a matter of “shame” that the Congress president was misleading the country on the Rafael issue. Sitharaman asked Rahul to apologise to the country from the floor of the House. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had alleged that the defence minister had “lied” in Parliament that government orders worth Rs one lakh crore were provided to HAL while demanding that she should either place the documents in support of her statement in the House or resign. Sitharaman told the Lok Sabha in a heated reply that "doubts raised" over her statement on HAL contracts were "incorrect and misleading."

NCW sends notice to Rahul Gandhi over Nirmala Sitharaman remark

<p>Dassault CEO Eric Trappier has rubbished allegations made by Congress president Rahul Gandhi that the former lied about the details of the Dassault-Reliance Joint Venture (JV) for offset contracts in the Rafale Jet deal. Tappier <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-is-confused-man-on-rafale-says-nirmala-sitharaman-175207">said that the company chose</a> Ambani and it has 30 partners other than Reliance.</p>

<p>"I don't lie. The truth I declared before and the statements I made are true. I don't have a reputation of lying," Trappier said during an interview with newswire ANI when asked to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/dictated-interviews-and-manufactured-lies-cannot-suppress-the-rafale-scam-congress-hits-back-at-dassault-ceo-177048">respond to Rahul Gandhi's charge</a> that Dassault was covering up for possible cronyism in awarding the offset deal to Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group.</p>

<p>"In my position as CEO, you don't lie," the Dassault CEO added.</p>

<p>The government on Monday had submitted documents related to the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France’s Dassault while emphasising that it had followed the "due process".</p>

<p>The pricing documents were submitted in a sealed cover. The government informed the court that it followed the process as laid down by the previous UPA government in 2013.</p>

<p>"We have long experience with Congress," he said, adding, "our first deal was with India in 1953 was during Nehru, later other PMs. We are not working for any party, we are supplying strategic products to the Indian Air Force and the Indian government."</p>

<p>"The first delivery of Rafale to the IAF is going to take place next year in September as per the contract. It is totally in time, Trappier said.</p>

<p>"We have seven years to perform our offset. During the first three years, we are not obliged to say with who we are working. Already settled agreement with 30 companies&nbsp;which represents 40% of total offset obligation as per contract. Reliance is 10% out of the 40,"&nbsp;he informed.</p>

<p>The document submitted in court by the government addressed allegations made by Congress president Rahul Gandhi that PM Modi forced the French company Dassault Aviation to select a Reliance group firm of Anil Ambani as an offset partner to help it "pocket" Rs 30,000 crore.</p>

<p>"As per available information, our adversaries inducted more than 400 fighters (equivalent to more than 20 Squadrons) during the period from 2010 to 2015. They not only inducted 4th Generation Aircraft but also inducted 5th Generation Stealth Fighter Aircraft," the government told the top court.</p>

<p>It stated that as per the Defence Offset Guidelines, the vendor is "free to select its Indian Offset Partners (IOPs) for implementing offset obligation".</p>

<p>"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," Dassault CEO Trappier said.</p>

<p>"We are not putting the money in Reliance. The money is going into the JV (Dassault-Reliance). Engineers and workers from Dassault are taking the lead as far as the industrial part of the deal is concerned," Trappier added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The&nbsp;Centre told the Supreme Court that 74 meetings of the Indian Negotiating Team (INT) took place, including 26 with the French side, from May 2015 to April 2016 on the Rafale deal.</p>

<p>INT was constituted to negotiate the terms and conditions of the procurement of 36 Rafale aircraft.</p>

<p>The INT was headed by the Deputy Chief of Air Staff (DCAS) of IAF and comprised of the Joint Secretary &amp; Acquisition Manager (Air); Joint Secretary (Defence Offset Management Wing); Joint Secretary &amp; Additional Financial Advisor; Finance Manager (Air); Advisor (Cost) and Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Plans) as members from Indian Government side.</p>

<p>The French side was headed by the Director General of Armament (DGA), Ministry of Defense, Government of France, it said.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Dassault CEO Eric Trappier has rubbished allegations made by Congress president Rahul Gandhi that the former lied about the details of the Dassault-Reliance Joint Venture (JV) for offset contracts in the Rafale Jet deal.

Dassault CEO Eric Trappier has rubbished allegations made by Congress president Rahul Gandhi that the former lied about the details of the Dassault-Reliance Joint Venture (JV) for offset contracts in the Rafale Jet deal. Tappier said that the company chose Ambani and it has 30 partners other than Reliance. "I don't lie. The truth I declared before and the statements I made are true. I don't have a reputation of lying," Trappier said during an interview with newswire ANI when asked to respond to Rahul Gandhi's charge that Dassault was covering up for possible cronyism in awarding the offset deal to Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group. "In my position as CEO, you don't lie," the Dassault CEO added. The government on Monday had submitted documents related to the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France’s Dassault while emphasising that it had followed the "due process". The pricing documents were submitted in a sealed cover. The government informed the court that it followed the process as laid down by the previous UPA government in 2013. "We have long experience with Congress," he said, adding, "our first deal was with India in 1953 was during Nehru, later other PMs. We are not working for any party, we are supplying strategic products to the Indian Air Force and the Indian government." "The first delivery of Rafale to the IAF is going to take place next year in September as per the contract. It is totally in time, Trappier said. "We have seven years to perform our offset. During the first three years, we are not obliged to say with who we are working. Already settled agreement with 30 companies which represents 40% of total offset obligation as per contract. Reliance is 10% out of the 40," he informed. The document submitted in court by the government addressed allegations made by Congress president Rahul Gandhi that PM Modi forced the French company Dassault Aviation to select a Reliance group firm of Anil Ambani as an offset partner to help it "pocket" Rs 30,000 crore. "As per available information, our adversaries inducted more than 400 fighters (equivalent to more than 20 Squadrons) during the period from 2010 to 2015. They not only inducted 4th Generation Aircraft but also inducted 5th Generation Stealth Fighter Aircraft," the government told the top court. It stated that as per the Defence Offset Guidelines, the vendor is "free to select its Indian Offset Partners (IOPs) for implementing offset obligation". "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," Dassault CEO Trappier said. "We are not putting the money in Reliance. The money is going into the JV (Dassault-Reliance). Engineers and workers from Dassault are taking the lead as far as the industrial part of the deal is concerned," Trappier added. The Centre told the Supreme Court that 74 meetings of the Indian Negotiating Team (INT) took place, including 26 with the French side, from May 2015 to April 2016 on the Rafale deal. INT was constituted to negotiate the terms and conditions of the procurement of 36 Rafale aircraft. The INT was headed by the Deputy Chief of Air Staff (DCAS) of IAF and comprised of the Joint Secretary & Acquisition Manager (Air); Joint Secretary (Defence Offset Management Wing); Joint Secretary & Additional Financial Advisor; Finance Manager (Air); Advisor (Cost) and Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Plans) as members from Indian Government side. The French side was headed by the Director General of Armament (DGA), Ministry of Defense, Government of France, it said.

Rafale deal: We chose Ambani ourselves, not putting the money in Reliance, says Dassault CEO Trappier