Goa CM in Possession of Incriminating Evidence in Rafale Deal?

Turning the Rafale deal even murkier, the Indian National Congress on Wednesday, January 2, released an audio file claiming it is a recorded conversation between the Goa Health Minister Vishwajit P Rane and an unidentified person, X. In the conversation, which seems to be an apparent fall-out of infighting in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Goa unit, the voice that Congress claims is of Vishwajit Rane can be heard saying that the Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who was Defence Minister at the time of the Rafale deal, is not being touched by the Modi government as he has all the files related to the Rafale deal in his bedroom. Even though Manohar Parrikar has denied the veracity of any such conversation, if this is true, it becomes very clear why the Modi government has been so afraid of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) or a formal inquiry by any central agency or a special commission monitored by the Supreme Court. It also becomes clear why the ailing CM has not been removed despite his deteriorating health.

Let’s assume there was no violation of set procedures by the Modi government in scrapping the earlier deal, or any escalation in the price, which was increased by nearly 2.6 billion euro than the benchmarked price. The benchmarked price was set by an experts’ committee under the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) appointed by the government. In that case, the BJP must immediately concede to the Opposition’s demand to constitute a JPC or order an independent, Supreme Court-monitored inquiry. 

Transcript of the Audio File of Vishwajit P Rane, Health Minister, Goa in conversation with X

X: Good Evening Sir.

Vishwajit: Boss Good Evening. I called today. There was a 3-hour Cabinet Meeting.

X: Ok.

 Vishwajit: Just keep it confidential.

 X: Han Han (Yes, Yes)

Vishwajit: There were so many fights, you know, so many fights. Nilesh Cabral went on and recruited maximum engineers from his Constituency, so everybody, Jayesh Salgaonkar got the list and showed it to him. Everybody was fighting with him and everybody was upset because no work is being done on the recruitment front.

 X: Okay.

 Vishwajit: Bapu Ajgaonkar was fighting with Sudin Dhavalikar because his work was not being done.

 X: Ok.

Vishwajit: Apart from that, the Chief Minister is making one interesting statement. That he has all the information of Rafale in his bedroom.

X: (Shocked) What are you saying?

Vishwajit: I am telling you.

X: My God!

Vishwajit: You should actually make a story and you can crosscheck with somebody with whom you are close to within the Cabinet.

X: Okay

 Vishwajit: Because this is how, you know, this is something…which he said ..that means he is holding them to ransom..

X: I swear!

Vishwajit: He said, “It’s in my bedroom .. here only in the flat.”

Vishwajit: Each and every document of Rafale is with me. Now, whether he wanted somebody to go and inform them in Delhi.. or what.. this I didn’t know.. I didn’t understand.

X: My God!

Vishwajit: Just.. I called you tell you this thing …

X: And 3 hour long Cabinet Meeting like you know! Literally heading nowhere, or was there, some kind of a thing?

Vishwajit: Nothing …it was going directionless, a waste of time.

 X: Sir tell me something, why is this man suddenly so interested in having an Assembly Session, that our speaker?

 Vishwajit: Because he feels that the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) will back him to become the Chief Minister.

 X: Aah Acha Acha Acha (Oh okay okay okay).

 Vishwajit: He is on his own train. Somebody has said Sudin is very clear that he is not supporting. They have said that Vijay is very clear that he is not supporting.

 X: My God!

Vishwajit: But we need to have a meeting, because you need to communicate certain things to Delhi. What will be the outcome of this whole thing.

 X: Sir, you tell me na sir! Whenever you tell me, I am there.

Vishwajit: I will tell you, just brief and keep. Because it will go in that direction only, I am very very clear.

 X: Okay

Vishwajit: I will tell.

X: Sir, so you let me know, whenever you want to come down, I will be there

Vishwajit: Okay Okay.

X: Bye