Goa chief minister and former defense minister Manohar Parrikar a conversation in cabinet meeting regarding Rafale fighter jet deal. Manohar Parrikar said the audio clip released by the Congress was its 'desperate attempt' to fabricate facts after the Supreme Court refused to initiate a probe into the Rafale deal.
"The audio clip released by the Congress party is a desperate attempt to fabricate facts after their lies were exposed by the recent Supreme Court verdict on Rafale. No such discussion ever came up during Cabinet or any other meeting," Parrikar tweeted.
The Congress released an audio clip purportedly featuring Goa health minister Vishwajit Rane. Rane purportedly can be heard saying that during a Goa cabinet meeting last week Parrikar stated he had an entire file and all documents relating to the Rafale deal lying in his bedroom, Surjewala claimed, playing the conversation for the media outside Parliament. Surjewala told reporters: "Former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has all the files relating to Rafale jet deal. The fashion in which every procedure was bypassed…it is all recorded in the files. Those files are with Mr. Parrikar. Why are those files being hidden? We want the truth." Meanwhile, a discussion on the Rafale deal is going on in the parliament today.
Former Goa Chief Minister and member of the state BJP core committee Laxmikant Parsekar said that the time after the release of the tape was difficult for the party. While Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo did not comment on the matter, he said that the loss has been done.
On Wednesday, a tape was issued on behalf of the Congress, in which the discussions about Goa's health minister Vishwajeet Rane and another person were discussed about the December 20 Cabinet meeting. As per the allegations, Manohar Parikar had said that Rafael's files are kept in his bedroom. Rane later said that the tape has been tampered with and it is a conspiracy against the national interest.
Before the Lok Sabha Elections, he is worried about the possibility of the party. Nilesh Cabral, designated in the tape, said that I have asked the Chief Minister to order an inquiry by CID or any other agency in this matter. It should be made public. He believed that this tape has increased the party's problems and said that we are always positive and all will be well.
