New Delhi, Nov. 14 (PTI): After Rahul Gandhi picked out an observation of a Supreme Court judge to seek a probe into the Rafale deal, the BJP on Thursday said no amount of "selective and convenient nitpicking" would help the Congress leader as the verdict of the apex court was a "comprehensive indictment" of his "lies".
"No amount of hair splitting or selective & convenient nitpicking will help you. You have been shamed for disgraceful conduct & distasteful comments. The judgment is a comprehensive indictment of your lies. Clutching at straws won't help redeem your condemnation," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said in a tweet.
The Supreme Court gave a clean chit to the Modi government on Thursday on the purchase of 36 fully-loaded Rafale fighter jets from French firm Dassault Aviation, rejecting the plea for registration of an FIR by the CBI for alleged commission of cognisable offence in the deal.
However, Gandhi referred to Justice K M Joseph's observation that the judgment "would not stand in the way" of the CBI from taking action on the complaint for lodging of an FIR.
"Justice Joseph of the Supreme Court has opened a huge door into investigation of the RAFALE scam. An investigation must now begin in full earnest. A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) must also be set up to probe this scam," he said.
Rafale verdict opens door for JPC probe — Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi, Nov. 14 (IANS): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said the Supreme Court verdict has opened a "huge door" into investigation of the "Rafale scam" and demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the fighter jet deal.
Gandhi tweeted: "Justice Joseph of the Supreme Court has opened a huge door into investigation of the RAFALE scam. An investigation must now begin in full earnest. A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) must also be set up to probe this scam."
The Congress party also said the BJP has been celebrating the Rafale verdict without studying the judgement properly and added that through its verdict the Supreme Court had "opened the gates for investigation" of the fighter jet deal by agencies.
"The BJP has a habit of celebrating without studying the judgements. The Supreme Court in the Rafale case today opened the gates for investigation by agencies, as it accepted that the issues of feasibility, technical specifications and price of the jets does not come under its purview under Article 32," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala at a press conference.
The Congress alleged that the BJP was "misleading the nation" on the Rafale judgement and said that they should allow CBI to investigate the Rafale deal case "without any political pressure".
Earlier, the Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a review petition seeking a probe into the Rafale deal. Justice S.K. Kaul while reading the judgement said that the review petition is without merit.
The top court dismissed a plea seeking lodging of an FIR to probe the Rafale deal inked with Dassault Aviation. The court also closed contempt proceedings initiated against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and said that being an important political person, Rahul must remain more careful in future.
Contempt proceeding was initiated against Rahul Gandhi for his remark "Chowkidar Chor Hai", attributing it to the Prime Minister.
