Rafale is reason Narendra Modi won't allow Alok Verma to present case before CBI selection panel, says Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter on Thursday, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in a “tearing hurry” to “sack” CBI chief Alok Verma because the former is ostensibly worried about the Rafale deal.

On Wednesday, the selection committee headed by Modi met to decide agency director Alok Verma’s fate.

“Why is the PM in such a tearing hurry to sack the CBI Chief?” Rahul asked on Twitter. He also asked, “Why will he not allow the CBI Chief to present his case in front of the selection committee ?” before writing, “RAFALE.”

1. Why is the PM in such a tearing hurry to sack the CBI Chief?

2. Why will he not allow the CBI Chief to present his case in front of the selection committee ?

Answer: RAFALE

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 10, 2019

Rahul’s attack came two days after the Supreme Court quashed the government’s unprecedented “overnight” order issued in October, 2018, stripping Verma of his powers and sending him on leave after a bitter feud with his deputy Rakesh Asthana, with both charging the other with corruption.

The court, while reinstating Verma on Tuesday, however, made it clear that he will desist from taking any major policy decision till a high-powered committee considers the issue of “divestment of power and authority”.

The outcome of the meeting, which took place at the prime minister’s residence at Lok Kalyan Marg, was not known.

Following the apex court verdict on Tuesday, Rahul had said no one can save the prime minister from the Rafale investigation and the entire nation would know “without a shadow of doubt” that he took Rs 30,000 crore of people’s money and gave it to his “friend” Anil Ambani.

The Congress party has been targeting Modi on the Rafale deal, alleging the price of each aircraft has sharply increased from Rs 526 crore, negotiated by the previous UPA government, to Rs 1,600 crore and that the contract will help Anil Ambani get Rs 30,000 crore benefit through offset contract.

The government, as well as Ambani, have rejected the charges.