Bengaluru: Taking a critical view of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi's visit to Israel, Congress party senior leader, Anand Sharma on Monday cautioned that any move by the PM to dilute the stand on Palestine will be severely opposed.
Speaking to reporters at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee office here, Mr Sharma said, "He (Mr Modi) can go to Israel, that's fine, but he cannot dilute the India's stated stand on Palestine. He must ensure the balance. India is committed to support Palestine, which is even accepted by countries like America and UK . It cannot be diluted or reversed by Mr Modi at this juncture. We will oppose it."
Training his guns on Mr Modi making a series of statements abroad, Mr Sharma quipped that the PM’s foreign trips have almost become a national embarrassment, as he was making outrageous statements while sharing the dais with international leaders.
"In Germany, he stands next to the Chancellor and says the country is begging for a Security Council seat. In China, he said Indians were ashamed of being Indian, while in Seoul, he said, it was a misfortune to be born in India. He must respect our country and uphold the dignity of the PM post. He is not just a leader of BJP who touring these countries," Mr Sharma quipped.
‘Why was HAL treated shabbily in Rafale deal?’
Coming down on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Rafale warplane deal, Congress party senior leader, Anand Sharma on Monday dared him to explain why Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) had been left out of this deal?.
Speaking to reporters at the KPCC office, Mr Sharma said, "HAL has a long history of dealing with France because of its experience with Mirage warplanes. Bypassing HAL cannot be accepted. If these warplanes are made in India, then it must be through HAL only. The Centre should not abandon institutions like HAL."
He added that he was visiting defence establishment as a member of the defence committee and would ask HAL authorities why they were left out. "When the UPA govt signed the MoU on Rafale, 18 warplanes were to come in ready and 108 were to be manufactured by HAL".
"Even countries like US and Russia were left out, Finally, Rafale made it. with a MTOT agreement (Maintenance and Technology Transfer) clause to benefit HAL. "But suddenly there is a U turn on this clause. Now, Mr Modi says technology transfer will be given to a private entity. Why this change? I want to know what was HAL’s mistake?" he asked.
