Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 8: Continuing its protest demonstration over Rafale issue at District headquarters, Congress today held strong demonstration at Kathua and Rajouri towns.
DCC Kathua led by its president, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma (Former minister) held an impressive protest at Gurudwara Chowk Kathua, while at Rajouri a strong protest was held in the city under the presidentship of Shabir Ahmad Khan (Former minister).
Senior leaders of the party participated in the protests and accused Modi Government of keeping the country in dark over the cost of Rafale deal and questioned BJP-led Government for procuring each Rafale fighter at a cost of over Rs 1,670 crore against Rs 526 crore finalized by the previous UPA Government.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi have lied to the country by keeping it in the dark over the Rafale deal. The agreement has no clause requiring the Government to keep the price of the deal hidden, but only the technicalities of the fighter jets. The Government is trying to hide a scam worth 41,000 crore.”
They said the agreement signed during the United Progressive Alliance regime in December 2012 stated that the cost of one Rafale jet is Rs 526 crore and the total cost of 36 jets works out to Rs 18,940 crore. The cost of one jet under the Modi Government, though, is Rs 1670.70 crore, which is almost 300% higher than the earlier deal.
Subash Gupta (Ex-MLC), Kulbir Singh Pathania, Aradhna Andhotra, Dr Kulbushan, Ajit Kumar, Ramesh Kundal, Parveen Bhagat, Ramesh Spolia, Kamal Singh, Ramesh Verma, Ramesh Kumar, Pankaj Sharma, Dalbir Sathi, Swarn Singh, Marori Lal Sharma were the prominent who participated in Kathua protest. Ashok Sharma (EX-MLA), Iqbal Malik, Sain Abdul Rasheed Ex-DCC president and others participated in the Rajouri protest.
The Congress activists also held protest at Budgam in Kashmir against the wrong policies of Centre Govt, saying that BJP Govt has compromised on National security by procuring Rafale Jet fighters through non-technical firms that too, on highest rates, causing huge losses to public exchequer.
Senior party functionaries and workers of District Congress Committee Budgam led by Gulam Nabi Monga MLC and PCC vice president held a protest demonstration against the so called Rafale deal by Centre Govt, describing it one among the big scams of Centre Govt.
Those who participated in the protest included PCC spokesperson Farooq Andrabi, I/C District president Zahid Hussain Jan, Mohd Akbar Mir, Ruhullah Gazi and other senior leaders and activists.
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