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Rahul Gandhi accuses PM Modi of acting like Anil Ambani’s middleman, levels treason charge

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6 years ago

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Rahul Gandhi accuses PM Modi of acting like Anil Ambani’s middleman, levels treason charge

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]After another explosive news report on the controversial Rafale deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi today (Tuesday, Feb 12) accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of passing on information about the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for purchase of the fighter aircraft in advance to Anil Ambani, thereby violating the Official Secrets Act (OSA), compromising national security and opening himself up to criminal prosecution.

Citing a report by The Indian Express (IE), Rahul Gandhi asked how Anil Ambani knew that the deal would materialise 10 days in advance of the official announcement. Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet: “By leaking information on the RAFALE MOU in advance to Anil Ambani, the PM has broken the Official Secrets Act and compromised National Security, opening himself up to criminal prosecution.”

Rahul, addresing a press conference, was reported to have alleged that Modi was acting as a middleman of businessman Anil Ambani. Quoting an email from an Airbus executive to French officials, he alleged what Modi had done amounted to treason, “nothing less”.

“He (Modi) is doing what spies do. He is under oath to protect these secrets. But he has given these secrets to others. This itself is criminal and puts him in jail,” Gandhi said.

Gandhi rubbished the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) report on the Rafale deal calling it “Chowkidar Auditor General report”. He said the CAG report was “worthless”.

Calling Modi a “corrupt man”, Rahul Gandhi said, “Earlier there was an axis of corruption (involved in the Rafale fighter aircraft deal) and an axis of procedural inconsistencies. And now there is this handing over of defence secret, of compromising national security. All three are to be investigated.”

He said neither the then defence minister Manohar Parrikar nor the foreign secretary nor Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) knew about the signing of the deal but Ambani did 10 days before it actually happened.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1549976678184{border-top-width: 10px !important;border-right-width: 10px !important;border-bottom-width: 10px !important;border-left-width: 10px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #efefef !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1549976765393{border-top-width: 10px !important;border-right-width: 10px !important;border-bottom-width: 10px !important;border-left-width: 10px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #bababa !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}”]The Congress president also questioned the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Rafale deal and said, “The Supreme Court judgment is open to question now.”

Gandhi reiterated his demand that a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) should be instituted in the Rafale deal. “Institute a probe by the JPC if the PM is not involved,” he said.

Official Secrets Act, 1923:

  1. Wrongful communication, etc., of information

(1) If any person having in his possession or control any secret official code or pass word or any sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information which relates to or is used in a prohibited place or relates to anything in such a place, 13[or which is likely to assist, directly or indirectly, an enemy or which relates to a matter the disclosure of which is likely to affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State or friendly relations with foreign States or which has been made or obtained in contravention of this Act,] or which has been entrusted in confidence to him by any person holding office under Government, or which he has obtained or to which he has had access owing to his position as a person who holds or has held office under Government, or as person who holds or has held a contract made on behalf of Government, or as a person who is or has been employed under a person who holds or has held such an office or contract-

(a) willfully communicates the code or pass word, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information to any person other than a person to whom he is authorized to communicate it or a Court of Justice or a person to whom it is, in the interests of the State, his duty to communicate it; or

(b) uses, the information in his possession for the benefit of any foreign power or in any other manner prejudicial to the safety of the State …[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In the press conference, Rahul drew attention to the report that when Ambani had visited French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian’s office in Paris in 2015, about two weeks before Modi announced the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft from France, the businessman mentioned that a “memorandum of understanding is in preparation” and spoke of the Indian government’s “intention to sign it” during Modi’s visit.

When Ambani visited the French Defence Minister’s office, it was known that Prime Minister Modi would make an official visit to France from April 9-11, 2015.

Subsequently, Ambani was part of the PM’s delegation during the visit where the deal for 36 Rafale aircraft was announced by Modi and then French President Francois Hollande in a joint

Incidentally, Reliance Defence was incorporated on March 28, 2015, in the same week as this meeting.

However, speaking to the press just before Modi’s visit, then foreign secretary S Jaishankar had said India does not mix up “leadership level visits with deep details of ongoing defence contract”, ruling out a possibility of the announcement of exactly such a deal.

“In terms of Rafale, my understanding is that there are discussions underway between the French company, our Ministry of Defence, the HAL which is involved in this. These are ongoing discussions. These are very technical, detailed discussions. We do not mix up leadership level visits with deep details of ongoing defence contracts. That is on a different track. A leadership visit usually looks at big picture issues even in the security field,” Jaishankar had told the media.

Public sector HAL was the licensed manufacturer of 108 Rafale aircraft in that contract but has no such role in the new deal.

Anil Ambani’s Reliance Group is the “key partner” for Dassault Aviation, manufacturer of Rafale aircraft, for discharge of offsets in the Euro 7.87 billion deal signed between India and France. The total value of offsets from the deal is estimated to be around Rs 30,000 crore, and Reliance’s exact share in that amount has not been officially confirmed so far.

The Congress alleges that the secrecy shrouding Modi’s surprise announcement of the deal and the fact that Ambani was one of the very few people who knew a state secret that apparently eluded the foreign secretary, points to the fact that Modi kept Ambani informed of the deal.

Responding to the Congress chief’s allegations, Reliance Defence said the “proposed MoU” mentioned in a purported email cited by Rahul Gandhi was a reference to its cooperation with Airbus Helicopter and had “no connection” with the Rafale deal.

“Purported email being referred by the Congress Party is regarding the discussion between Airbus and Reliance Defence regarding Civil & Defence Helicopter Programs under ‘Make in India’,” a Reliance Defence spokesperson said in a statement, reported The Times of India (TOI).

“The discussion on proposed MoU was clearly with reference to cooperation between Airbus Helicopter and Reliance. It had no connection whatsoever with Government to Government Agreement between France and India for 36 Rafale aircraft,” the Reliance Defence spokesperson said.

It is in public domain that Airbus Helicopter has partnered with Mahindra for the Military Helicopter Programme, the spokesperson added.

“Also, for the record, the MoU for Rafale aircraft was signed between France and India on January 25 2016 and not in April 2015. From the above, it is evident that the facts are being deliberately twisted and reality being ignored,” the company said.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India News

Five dead in deadly explosion at ordnance factory in Maharashtra’s Bhandara

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58 mins ago

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January 24, 2025

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Smoke rising from the site of the massive explosion at the Ordnance Factory in Bhandara, Maharashtra

At least five people are feared dead following a massive explosion at an ordnance factory in Bhandara, Maharashtra, this morning. The blast, which occurred at around 10:30 am, was of such intensity that it was heard from a distance of 5 kilometers. The incident took place at the ordnance factory located near Nagpur, in the Bhandara district of Maharashtra.

According to District Collector Sanjay Kolte, the explosion led to the collapse of a roof, trapping several people beneath the debris. Initial reports suggest that at least 12 individuals were caught under the rubble, though two have been successfully rescued. Authorities are continuing their efforts to locate and save survivors, with heavy machinery being brought in to assist with the removal of debris.

Rescue teams, along with medical staff, are actively engaged in the operation, while firefighters work to contain the aftermath of the explosion. A thick cloud of smoke was visible rising from the factory, as captured in a video filmed from a distance. The blast has caused widespread panic, but the full scale of the damage is yet to be determined.

Officials have confirmed that emergency response teams have been deployed at the scene, with hopes of finding more survivors. As the investigation into the cause of the explosion unfolds, authorities are working to ensure the safety of those in the vicinity.

This tragedy adds to the growing concerns about safety in industrial areas, with questions likely to arise about the maintenance and safety protocols in place at ordnance factories across the region. Further updates on the situation are awaited as recovery operations continue.

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Bihar news

BPSC 70th prelims result 2024 out: Here’s direct link to check

The BPSC has also released the cutoff marks for the CCE, providing candidates with valuable insight into the performance benchmarks. The cut-off scores vary across different categories, reflecting the commission’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity. 

Published

18 hours ago

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January 23, 2025

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The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) released the results for the 70th Preliminary Examination on January 23, 2025. Candidates can view their results on the official BPSC website, bpsc.bih.nic.in. The results include those for the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE), Finance Administrative Officer, and Child Development Project Officer positions.

This year’s examination covered a wide range of posts, including those under the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE), Finance Administrative Officer (FAO), and Child Development Project Officer (CDPO). The release of these results marks a significant step forward for thousands of candidates pursuing careers in public service within Bihar.

The BPSC 70th Preliminary Examination, conducted on December 13th and January 4th, 2025, witnessed a massive turnout of 328,990 candidates. This substantial number underscores the immense competition and the high stakes involved in securing a government position in Bihar. The results, however, reveal a more selective outcome.

A total of 21,581 candidates successfully cleared the preliminary round for the CCE, demonstrating their competence and readiness to progress to the subsequent stages of the recruitment process. For the specialized roles of FAO and CDPO, a considerably smaller, yet still significant number of candidates qualified. 61 individuals successfully passed the preliminary examination for FAO positions, while 144 candidates qualified for CDPO posts.

The BPSC has also released the cutoff marks for the CCE, providing candidates with valuable insight into the performance benchmarks. The cut-off scores vary across different categories, reflecting the commission’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity. 

Cut-off Marks:

  • Unreserved: 91
  • Unreserved Female: 81
  • EWS: 83
  • EWS Female: 73
  • SC: 70
  • SC Female: 55
  • ST/ST Female: 65

How to Check Your Results:

  1. Go to bpsc.bih.nic.in.
  2. Locate and click the “BPSC 70th Prelims Result 2024” link.
  3. A PDF containing the results will open. Download and save a copy for your records.

Examination Results: The Bihar prelims exam, held on December 13th and January 4th, 2025, saw 328,990 candidates. The following number passed:

  • Combined Competitive Examination: 21,581
  • Finance Administrative Officer: 61
  • Child Development Project Officer: 144

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India News

Har Jarurat Hogi Puri: Congress releases campaign song ahead of Delhi elections

Congress leaders, including Delhi Chief Devendra Yadav and national spokesperson Pawan Khera, expressed confidence in the anthem’s impact, emphasising its ability to capture the public mood and convey the party’s commitment to resolving Delhi’s pressing issues.

Published

19 hours ago

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January 23, 2025

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The Congress party launched its campaign anthem, “Har Jarurat Hogi Puri, Dilli Mein Congress Hai Jaruri” (“Every Need Will Be Fulfilled, Congress is Essential in Delhi”), on Thursday, marking a significant step in its strategy for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.

The 2-minute 48-second song serves as a potent weapon in the party’s arsenal, aiming to capture the attention of Delhi’s electorate and sway their votes in its favour.

The anthem’s lyrics directly confront the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), highlighting the prevalent disillusionment among Delhi’s residents regarding the current governance.

It boldly addresses critical local issues, painting a vivid picture of the city’s shortcomings under AAP’s rule. The polluted Yamuna River and the subpar quality of drinking water serve as central themes, with the powerful line “Yamuna Saaf Nahi, Pani Na Saaf Hai” (The Yamuna is not clean, the water is not clean) encapsulating the public’s growing discontent.

Beyond highlighting the existing problems, the Congress anthem meticulously outlines its own vision for Delhi, presenting a compelling alternative to the incumbent AAP government. The party pledges free electricity for households consuming up to 300 units, a promise designed to resonate with the city’s residents struggling with rising energy costs.

The ambitious “Pyari Didi Yojana,” promising a monthly allowance of Rs 2,500 to women from low-income families, aims to further strengthen the Congress’ appeal among the electorate.

Addressing the widespread concern about women’s safety in the city, the anthem criticizes the AAP government’s perceived lack of focus on this crucial issue, arguing that despite promises, women continue to feel unsafe. This pointed critique underscores the Congress’ commitment to addressing this critical aspect of governance, distinguishing its approach from its rivals.

The release of the anthem is strategically timed, closely following the BJP’s launch of its campaign song, “Jo Ram Ko Lekar Aaye Unka Raj Hoga Dilli Mein” (“Those who carry Ram will rule Delhi”). The timing underscores the intensity of the upcoming electoral battle, with both the Congress and BJP vying for the support of Delhi’s voters.

Congress leaders, including Delhi Chief Devendra Yadav and national spokesperson Pawan Khera, expressed confidence in the anthem’s impact, emphasising its ability to capture the public mood and convey the party’s commitment to resolving Delhi’s pressing issues.

The anthem’s release signifies the Congress party’s full-fledged entry into the electoral fray, setting the stage for a closely contested election on February 5th, with results due on February 8th. Over 1.5 crore voters will play a crucial role in deciding the fate of the 70-member Delhi Assembly.

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