Nirmala Sitharaman’s point-by-point rebuttal on Congress’ Rafale charge

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered a sharp counter offensive to the fiery debate in the Lok Sabha on the Rafale deal on Friday. Taking on the Congress, Sitharaman blamed the party for spreading falsehood and ignoring national security concerns when it was in power. She alleged that “something did not suit them”, which stalled the signing of the deal with French aircraft manufacturer Dassault during the UPA rule. She also countered the allegation that the NDA government reduced the number of Rafale fighter jets to be purchased from France. “The UPA government wanted only 18 flyaway fighter jets. UPA created a deadlock,” she said.
Earlier in the day, Congress president Rahul Gandhi stepped up attack on the Modi government over the Rafale deal. He posed a series of questions including why the number of Rafale aircrafts to be purchased was reduced from 126 to 36 by the NDA government.

[@sureshthalassery9059]

She is my defense minister 😍. I voted for congress in elections during my last 9 years. But I am waiting for 2019 to vote for bjp because of people like Nirmala,modi, sushama etc

[@chandrasengodan3421]

Also smruti irani

[@ishmitaghosh7259]

Oh Rahul Gandhi so sad yr 🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭

[@ishmitaghosh7259]

Yes mam r u right 😊😊😊😊😊

[@abhinavv7998]

Also Dr Jaishankar 💐💐💐 He is a gifted person to BJP .

[@sureshthalassery9059]

@@abhinavv7998 but now she s d worst Minister in our cabinet 😁

[@somankanchan3266]

This Madam got all her forehand and backhand shots on the spots, well done Madam ji............Respect

[@bikirankalita7742]

The strong lady☺ loved your speech ma'am

[@NONO-rt6ms]

please tell some one to Rahul , Rafal aircraft is not a toy, what he played in his child wood...

[@adityavv96]

NO No who knows ? He still plays with them

[@Patlanchaporr]

Wood wood dabangg dabangg dabangg...

[@shreyasahani472]

😂😂😂

[@udaydaud8732]

He played with whole government

[@shreeharidattag6919]

See the face of Rahul Gandhi 😂

[@sreejithiyer7540]

He is thinking what is AA..RV....Q

[@ravichandranchittella867]

Rahul is about to cry.....it's enough Nirmala ji leave him it's time for cerlac

[@funsak112]

Nirmala nailed with facts, but Rahul still didn't understand what is fighter jet.

[@SaruArun]

Wow. Precise and to the point!! Hats off madam!!!

[@vaibhavpokale3884]

Things are crystal clear..! Nothing more than waste of time..! Great reply mam..! proud of u..

[@madhurshankard]

What clear? Why was Reliance chosen? Why is there a drastic hike in quote? She answered none of the questions.... She smartly dodged all the questions, framed new questions to shut Rahul and congress....

[@vaibhavpokale3884]

@@madhurshankard Thank u for ur reply... but as per my knowledge.. these are the major reason behind 1.Currently HAL is overloaded and involved in multiple projects like LCH, LUH, IMRH, HTT-40, IJT-Sitara, Dhruv, Rudra, LCA (Tejas), AMCA, Sukhoi-30, HAL-UAV. These are the new projects on which HAL is working. Apart from these projects HAL spend sufficient time and manpower to maintain and overhaul, current IAF, Navy and Army aircraft and Helicopter fleet. 2. HAL has maintained a monopoly in aviation sector, which is bad for any industry. It never faced any competition from any other company since its formation. This resulted in multiple delays in projects and official negligence towards performance. 3. HAL is not able to keep up its promises which it made earlier. Take an example of Tejas. It does not get its FOC till now. Although it is world class aircraft but not completely ready. HAL designed and developed IJT-Sitara which is intermediate trainer. After complete development and few flight testing, they came to know it is not what they want to develop. IJT needs to redesigned completely from drawing board and developed again. HTT-40 is also trainer for beginners and it is not yet completely developed. 4. It was long pending demand of armed forces too, to involve private players in defense production and research. 5. Since in Rafael deal partner has to manufacture only components not full fledge aircraft (which requires huge experience and expertise) that is why it is a good opportunity to give chance a private player. So this was the right time for Govt. to take a call and break the monopoly of HAL. Since Govt. had to decide between Tata, Ambani and Adani who can handle such a massive project and become key player in defense industry. Since Tata was involved in multiple defense project earlier so giving a contract to Tata would be foolish. Adani neither had that workforce nor money if compare it with Reliance. Then contract went to Reliance defence. --Again its my view as Techie, correct me if i am awrong.. I am not a fan of any political leadership.

[@thevineetmishra226]

@@madhurshankard the problem with idiots like you that you dont listen the bjp response and keep barking the same questions..see this video from 5:30 onwards

[@madhurshankard]

@@thevineetmishra226 Sorry, I could not find anything justifying the deal with Anil Ambani or anything that justifies the humungous hike in the quote... Do I need a special headphones or speaker to hear it or should I day dream? If you guys are justifying with a non existent content in a video posted in youtube what else you would do for justifying the facts(lies) that is totally concealed from us....

[@madhurshankard]

@@vaibhavpokale3884 whatever you say is not at all uttered by Nirmala... Even Hollande openly said he was not given any option other than reliance. These people are hiding so many things in the name of confidentiality... I suspect there is a lot of corruption involved...

[@saranuoy]

Now rafael becomes a boomerang for scamgress...... Well done nirmala ji...

[@cyborgod]

ithelam namaku thevaya pa?

[@sonakshikaushal6998]

Well done maam....👍

[@ravichandranchittella867]

I can't Rahul cry.....it's enough Nirmala ji ....you have grilled him enough

[@143varunsherke2]

@Tinku Baidyanaah he's dying inside.

[@cringelord2022]

brilliant, thorough, factual and most of all, comprehensive. this is india. this is the pinnacle of indian womanhood. god bless her. god bless the bjp.

[@rammunna9424]

Bharat matha is in way of Nirmala -sitharaman to our HINDUSTAN.. INDIA Salutes you

[@vinothkumar-js7iz]

Raghul is not even listening...He is careless and lathargic...

[@sunithansathya3931]

ராகுலுக்கு அறிவும், நேர்மையும் இல்லை, அரசியலும் தெரியாது, எதைஏடுத்தாலும் கொள்ளையடிக்க, ஊழல் செய்ய இத்தாலி சூனியா இந்த பப்புவை இழுத்து புடிச்சி வெச்சிகிட்டு இருக்கா. அவன் விட்டால் ஓடிப்போய் ஏதாவதெரு வெளிநாட்டில் பொண்ணும், போதையுமாய் குதூகலிப்பான்.

[@MrHubla]

He couldn't comprehend what she saying

[@ankurai1]

Listens or not .. any way it won’t make any difference :)

[@CRP352]

Tution teacher teaches better than the teacher at school... Tution jaake pappu bhai padega....

[@NeutralStan]

sunithan sathya sariya sonninga .

[@matrixresurrection2302]

Pappu doesn't even know what is fighter plane...😀

[@dhananjaychandawadkar3998]

pappu only knows remote control areoplane 😂🤣✈️

[@sanjaycho3159]

Teachers to papu: what is fighter plane? Papu:- it's the plane which is made by news paper😂😂😂. And I am a pilot my self. Teacher died of heart attack

[@karnammurali541]

Yea you are right bro..we need to teach him ....Beiman kahika....kamayika chakkar me...woh khud chor hai... Sab ko chor boltha hai.... Naalayak...

[@tejasbhosale2011]

Saifi Ahmad tujhe bada pata hai😓😏 Rahul ji kitne padhe likhe hai maloom hai kya

[@sanjaycho3159]

@@tejasbhosale2011 apko pta Hain?

[@sri420in]

Only 1 line comes to My mind. "Muh Tod Jawab ". Well done madam Raksha Mantriji. 👏👏👏👏👏

[@rajendrajoshi8389]

Excellent speech Nirmalaji who made the points on Rafael deal absolutely crystal clear. Congress has always lied on this issue.

[@kamalchatterjee5677]

PEOPLE have the right to know all .we can send SPUTNIK to other planet,why should we purchase from foreign country.?is it forCUT MONEY .WHY WAS 36 CRORES INCREASED? WHYWAS ORDER GIVEN TO RELIANCE3 MONTHS COMPANY . ""CORRUPTION IS IN BLOOD OF INDIAN POLITICIANS"""".WE THINK POLITICIANS LIKE DOGS FIGHTING IN RAINY SEASON( NOT FOR SEX BUT FOR MONEY.)"" PUBLISH ARGREEMENT OF "RAFEL" ABOUT MONEY MATTERS WITHOUT TECHNICAL /ENGINEERING DATA (FOR SECRECY OF DEFENCE) OTHERWISE WE WILL CALLYOU "" CHOR/ CORRUPTED / KUTTA""

[@newyear6454]

What a brilliant reply. But no use because Rahul will keep harping his own raga. He can't step back now because he has come so far.

[@sachinpundirspy]

Rahul roo padega bas karo ma'am 😂

[@BharathKumar-ox4fx]

These BJP ministers are ruthless..Manohar parikkar was also a point to point talker...In whatever profession you should follow the system followed by these ministers...Forget the rumours just vote BJP.

[@amitsrivastava1934]

Very well explained Madam.....Rahul Gandhi has a cognitive barrier and cannot follow your rationale. Its a pity that such a candidate is being touted as the future Prime Minister of the country. Lets be cautious as citizens.

[@dheerajsaini6554]

Now congress is against supreme court. Shame on this kind of politics.

[@pawansharmakohina9957]

Great speech

[@vikasdeshmukh5919]

Very nice speech Mam...👏👏👏 ये देश के हर एक नागरिक ने देखना चाहिए, तब जाके बहोत सारे लोगोंके आँखे खुल जाएंगे. और तब लोगोंको समझ मे आएगा की असल मे क्या हो रहा है. In 2019 only Modijii...✌️✌️✌️

[@sonakshikaushal6998]

Yes boss only modiji 😎✌️

[@vikasdeshmukh5919]

@@sonakshikaushal6998 Yes... definitely.....👍👍

[@lakhanmitu937]

Absolutely sir..✌️🙏

[@radhakrishna5919]

Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled the fire in her..

[@chakrak3367]

I have 3 questions to Rahul. Did UPA based tender including missiles? Why Raberto Vadhera was involved in Rafael tender? Who is Qatrochi? Please answer these questions first.

[@anindyabhattacharya4878]

Why putting so much effort madam. Pappu doesn't ever care about what u say .

[@rajendertkr]

For the country they are misleading the country

[@akshaysinghchauhan7403]

the country does

[@Vbvnaik]

That shameless RaGa is still shouting 30000 crores given to Anil Ambani. I wish senior RaGa slept early that night, we wouldn't have to bear a national disgrace

[@DK-td8te]

RV - Robert vadra, Q is Quatrochi.

[@shaiva7975]

Was searching for this for long

[@vaishnavirao3769]

There's a difference between defense dealings and dealings in defence.. Rahulji's expression was priceless🤣🤣

[@ramakantmali9626]

Lioness is roaring and the corrupt jackals are searching places to hide!!! Great Nirmalaji!!!

[@prem8068]

Please use these facts during the next election rallies. Now we know where the taxpayer's money went and who took them.

[@roshnigawandi]

Abhinav Jha unfortunately, most of the voters are interested in free aloo tamatar more than understanding all these facts. Our voters need to be educated first on what all things are done in last 4 years and how it will be effective in the upcoming years.

[@Udoysankar]

Congress dogs are barking in the parliament

[@mildarisklyngdoh4644]

Stupid who Congress is a dog I hate bjp evils one day Wil fall out bjp evil I pray for Congress to give up

[@saratparidasaratparida4323]

Congress dogs are barking in the parliament

[@push2010pa]

Iron lady..best defence minister..!!

[@ubaananthstanley1677]

Excellent & Excellent is not the word .. ! She ( nirmala -ji ), speaks with such clarity as it is the #truth & nothing but the #truth ...

[@vamsidharreddy3383]

Can anyone explain what is "for every AA there is an RV "😂

[@EmotionalInvestor]

RV is Robert Vadra, brother in law of Rahul Gandhi. She means, if you are pointing fingers at Anil Ambani, make sure your "friends" are clean.

[@mahendrasharma5365]

Namo again...

[@jayaramanm4752]

Madam Nirmala Seetharaman given a wonderful speech on Rafael debate. Mr.Rahul unable to understand her analysis and was looking like a child. Best wishes to Madam.

[@Aakashkumar-yb3fc]

Women power.

[@rohitrathod8898]

“BJP walo Bachhe ke kitna maroge 😢😂 Chhota bheem ko leke ayega pappu 🤪” Pappu needs free Pogo sub. 👻 India needs Modi ji 🇮🇳😃✌🏼

[@Mike-in6mu]

I support MODI..

[@vbangami3321]

I hate modi..i don't like 90%of his work.Abt wht I knw. I like only 10% of his works for out country

[@lh6845]

...and the Rafaels arrived in India....wow now that's top level. Respect and Salute.

[@Giridharan952]

Baby Rahul , Why are always working for BJP indirectly..................good rahul you do have same national interest , finally ..........by being opponent to BIG Modi jI ...................... baby like questions...........big absence of national interest ----------------surrounded by all idiots with selfish motive...............God. If in election Modi Ji stands First ------------------ second opponent will be somewhere like 99 th or 100 th place..........Rahul ....... try to be good opposstion first atleast in the below 10 th place ................. we need fighting opponent......... not like baby like your ............ we want fighting opponent ...... to have always balanced working with national interest.

[@NidhinVinod-tt3tb]

Hi congress supporters I can understand your love toward Congress, but Our Country should be the first priority.

[@ravidubey7910]

Now this is what we will call iron lady of our modern country...just smashed them...bahut hard tha😂

[@pavanmessi_official4624]

Well done mam 👏👏👌

[@karnammurali541]

ROAR MAM...LIKE WILD LION... BECAUSE YOU ARE FAIR..NON CORRUPT...NO NEED SCARE..... HATS OFF MAM FOR YOUR SPEACH..JAI HIND

[@binubinukutty169]

One. Man.magical.work.excellent. important. (HOPE).

[@Nitin-fn2zq]

Congress is good opposition but it needs strong leader. Rahul Gandhi is a joke.congress has way better leaders than mr.gandhi they should be given chance. Rahul is immature for politics.

[@chandrashekar-kg7oi]

Bt he seema to be excellent for BAD Politics

[@ManojManu-pf4bh]

Kharge

[@sneharai3710]

What a speech! Facts told!

[@mayurtapkir3887]

Rv is a damad of the country 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@sulochanarathod1936]

awsome speech mam..#women power

[@golik133]

Rahul: mummy ko bola tha politics join nahi karna 😓😒

[@OmSoumyaMallick]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@pk-vs8vg]

We want Modi back in 2019!!

[@vbangami3321]

I have Rahul Gandhi

[@Shiv_Goswami_24]

Modi Again 2024

[@Shiv_Goswami_24]

@Raghav Namasivayam India Bought 36 Rafales in €7.87Billion (US$9.3Billion) Per Unit Cost:- US$259Million Egypt bought 24 Rafales in €5.2Billion (US$6.1Billion) Per Unit Cost:- US$257Million So what problem opposition party have?

[@Shiv_Goswami_24]

@Raghav Namasivayam bro see my full comment. If you don't believe me then you should visit France Gov's official Website on both deals. You need link?

[@Shiv_Goswami_24]

@Raghav Namasivayam India France Rafale Deal m.economictimes.com/news/defence/india-france-ink-deal-for-36-rafale-fighter-jets/articleshow/54478473.cms

[@SenthilKumar-sp4um]

oh my god, so very proud of you madam. I like your mention of "there is a difference in between defence dealing & dealing with defence" excellent.

[@rivnehariwala315]

Nirmala ji was roaring like a lioness . Rahul was about to cry 😂😂

[@charrot9352]

congres is not able to digest second woman after indira Gandhi becoming defence minister.

[@heishnamrajatasingh1456]

I am proud to have such wonderful person as our defense minister.

[@pathuriswamy6454]

Power of Indian woman

[@dinakannan8673]

Congrats madam correctly said

[@SaiKumar-hp2xv]

When mam told RV. Look at rahul's face....

[@yaminimishra431]

Rahul Gandhi doesn't even know the current president of France . This is my humble request to congress party please do educate your so called president first. Rafael ke baare me baad me bole phele facts ready kre. Be a proper and perfect opposition. And also well behaved.

[@surajs5403]

yamini mishra its our bad luck that such parties are our opposition

[@yaminimishra431]

@Kim sung Un lol 😂

[@mrvp868]

Great madam.Everybody knows Rahul is a joker who is repeating same false allegations.

[@makarsankranti1000]

The day u angry a pro....u are out of the game

[@maheshgujjari2027]

Sitaraman....Ji aap bi badiya speaker hai...good

[@somkantupadhyay2208]

One of the most audacious and bold minister of the cabinet🔥🔥

[@sayalisutar6683]

Keep going ma'am... Proud of you... BJP 🇮🇳

[@praneshsir]

Congratulations nirmala ji

[@PunitKumar-wh3ek]

Grt mam I salute u

[@manirakki7704]

Super speech

[@Sujiummannoor]

Iron Lady Of New India..... Nirmala Sitharaman ... Hats Off you madam. You give us the clear picture and truth behind this falsehood spreading by Congress Party... U did your role... "Defence"...

[@ngurram]

Great Speech Madam, This is the power of Indian women

[@mallimallik1696]

Excellent great madam

[@chiranjitroy553]

You are great madam

[@venkatkrishnakumar9927]

Superb. No words madam. Big salute to you madam

[@shekharkalaskar3472]

Congress fully exposed...

[@sai0ram]

The NDA doesn''t need any other promoter than Rahul Gandhi

[@rohanmitra84]

Oh wow, the defence minister starts comparing AA with RV & Q and the Bhakts think it’s a factual rebuttal. AA’s company has a greater credential then HAL😂

[@kamaldeepsingh8439]

A great speech by defence minister! But some questions are still alive: 1. A deal did not suit them because they agreed to pay 500 CR , or suited to someone else because it is being paid 1600 CR . 2. She did not mention that for what's reason HAL gets 53 concessions, is it for Rafael or Sukhoi or any other defence equipments which they fail to manufacture. 3. If HAL is failing to manufacture defence armaments then why HAL is living at the moment, it means country is poked by both sides purchasing from other countries and HAL expenses. 4. If HAL gets concessions even after great experience in defence equipments manufacturing, then newly appointed company formed 12 days before deal , for Rafael would really manufacture the parts successfully. Rafael would dangerous for our pilots because parts are supplied by inexperienced company. 5. Other questions are also alive.

[@parlapallibharath9539]

"If HAL gets concessions even after great experience in defence equipments manufacturing, then newly appointed company formed 12 days before deal , for Rafael would really manufacture the parts successfully. " - no company in India is making parts for rafale - they are coming in fly away condition from france. how many time should people tell this? " A deal did not suit them because they agreed to pay 500 CR , or suited to someone else because it is being paid 1600 CR ." - 500 cr was for base aircraft , 1600 was for aircraft with sensors,radars,, missiles, pylons... even with the base aircraft congress did not finalize the deal.. why is the question to congress - not BJP. "She did not mention that for what's reason HAL gets 53 concessions, is it for Rafael or Sukhoi or any other defence equipments which they fail to manufacture." - that 53 concession were given in 2012 by standing committee of defence - why are you asking the present govt for those concessions? "If HAL is failing to manufacture defence armaments then why HAL is living at the moment, it means country is poked by both sides purchasing from other countries and HAL expenses." - why is the state of HAL in this way? why almost every aircraft since past 67 years was purchased from abroad? who made HAL so weak? what steps were taken to strengthen HAL past 67 years? this is a question again to congress "Other questions are also alive." the only other question alive is how can people be so moronic to still believe in congress!

[@ajaivaidyanathan5880]

I definitely want BJP as ruling party in 2019, but I definitely do not want COngress as principal opposition, I want some sane and rational person to lead the opposition . I do not want to see diatribes from opposition but want to see a sensitive debate on policies. I can sense only desparateness from the opposition, eager to label the governement as corrupt rather than raising actual issues.

[@chinthana]

Brilliant.. Nirmala Ji...

[@Suba27292]

Love ur speech mam

[@kirankumargadwal4678]

Queen

[@jeevar3815]

Great reply mam 👍

[@lishap8731]

Hahahahahaha.. amazing tight slap on Congress's face

[@sugureshnandikolmath9864]

Well done madam

[@allennaidu1923]

Proud of you ma'am

[@akki6306]

what about the price

[@ruthvikkadam1454]

Genuine doubt: How is making 110 jets in India not better than taking 36 in fly way condition?

[@vishwaswaroopa1634]

Love you Nimala ji! Proud of you.👍

[@sairam-dw5wq]

Mam your reply was sheer brilliance and clear

[@prakashr1608]

Great work mam..

[@kbsnavee]

Superb Madam.

[@nipunkumar2615]

listening to her intense voice ...u cannot doubt her..she is clear and logical...our country is in safe hands...bravo defence minister🇮🇳🇮🇳

[@boredaf669]

Can someone please explain the AA and RV and Q point?

[@achucreations773]

Amazing ma'am

[@manishnaithani1301]

Congress dosent even feel ashamed calling Rahul gandhi their leader... Haa haa

[@suryakantabiswal2075]

Chor (Congress) ka najar mein true party bhi Chor.

[@rudrakshpandey4003]

53 Waivers.. And we used to wonder where our Taxes went

[@swetasharma8927]

😍😍😍😍😍