On “Cushioned Sofas” Barb, Rahul Gandhi Points To 8,400 Crore Plane For PM
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi was responding to questions on his “cushioned” seat on a tractor
New Delhi:
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi – mocked for sitting on cushioned seats throughout an anti-farm legal guidelines tractor rally in Punjab yesterday – hit again immediately by accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “losing” 1000’s of crores on a set of two custom-made Boeing airplanes that “didn’t simply have a cushion however a complete lot of luxurious beds for his consolation”.
Questioning the necessity to spend such a lot of cash “when China is at our borders” and the federal government is dashing weapons, ammunition, gasoline, meals and winter necessities to jap Ladakh – in its largest operation in many years – Mr Gandhi steered PM Modi wished the planes – certainly one of which is Air India One – as a result of “his pal Donald Trump (america President) has one (Air Power One)”.
“Why do not you query them about this? It’s unusual that no person is asking concerning the Boeing 777 bought for this whopping quantity however everyone seems to be fast to level to a gaddi (cushion),” Mr Gandhi advised reporters in Punjab’s Patiala immediately – the second day of this three-day rally.
“On the one, Prime Minister Modi has purchased two plane value Rs 8,000 crore. On the opposite, China is at our borders and our safety forces are braving harsh winters to guard (us),” he stated, including that the cushions had been positioned there by well-wishers.
Mr Gandhi’s remark triggered a right away response from sources within the authorities, which identified that the procurement course of for the planes – certainly one of which is for VVIPs – was began beneath the Congress-led UPA administration and stated it had merely concluded the acquisition.
A picture of Rahul Gandhi on cushioned seats on a tractor have been tweeted by Union Minister Hardeep Puri
Mr Gandhi has been a vocal critic of the Narendra Modi authorities on a number of fronts, together with its dealing with of the China border row; this morning the Congress chief declared the PM is “solely obsessed along with his picture” and had given away 1,200 sq. km of territory to China.
Later within the night sources defended the federal government’s buy of the planes – initiated in 2011 – and stated Mr Gandhi was entitled to “disregard for the UPA authorities” however to not his personal details.
The sources clarified that the planes, which belong to the Indian Air Power, will not be “the PM’s aircrafts” however have been meant to be used by different VVIPs as nicely.
Air India One, a custom-made Boeing 777 plane for President, VP, PM arrived in Delhi final week
The method of acquisition started in 2011, the sources stated, including that by the next yr an inter-ministerial group had beneficial the Boeing 777 after ten conferences. The acquisition order was transferred to the Air Power in 2013 and accomplished this yr, the sources defined.
The planes, they additional stated, have been meant to switch these at the moment in use. These are over 25 years previous, “incapable of lengthy, trans-Atlantic flights… and are additionally gasoline guzzlers of epic proportions”.
One of many planes in query – Air India One – landed at Delhi airport final week after its preliminary supply was delayed by the Covid pandemic. It’s outfitted with state-of-the-art missile defence methods and Self-Safety Suites (SPS), know-how for which was bought by the US for $190 million.
Total, the planes price Rs 8,400 crore, in line with information company PTI.
At the moment, the President, Vice President and Prime Minister fly on Air India’s B747 planes which might be used for business visitors when not flying them.
With enter from PTI