Nirmala Sitharaman on Rafale verdict: Rahul apologise, Congress introspect

Union Finance Minister and senior BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman hailed the Supreme Court's verdict on the Rafale review petitions and demanded an apology from former Congress president Rahul Gandhi for "misleading the people with blatant lies". In a tweet on Thursday, November 14, Sitharaman said the price paid for Rafale by the Narendra Modi government was right and so was the procurement process and offset contracts. The Supreme Court on Thursday gave relief to Gandhi while simultaneously rebuking him strongly in the contempt case against him for attributing his 'Chowkidar Chor Hai' political slogan to the apex court, ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

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“Chor comment by Shri Rahul Gandhi of Congress repeated several times over for political gains, brazenly accusing the Prime Minister is called out for what it is, irresponsible. He should apologise to the nation for misleading the people with blatant lies, even in the Lok Sabha," tweeted Nirmala Sitharaman. She even called on Congress to introspect for having sailed along even as its leader repeatedly insulted the PM.

SC gives a word of caution to Rahul Gandhi

Shortly after the Supreme Court bench dismissed the Rafale review petitions, saying it felt it inappropriate to wade into a 'roving and fishing enquiry', Justice SC Kaul pronounced the judgment in the Supreme Court for the criminal contempt case against Rahul Gandhi filed by Meenakshi Lekhi. Justice Kaul said that it was unfortunate that the contemnor had made such remarks and that he - holding such an important position - should have been more careful. Justice Kaul observed that no court should be dragged into any political discourse. Following this, citing the affidavit filed by Rahul Gandhi in which he had apologised, the 3-judge bench in a concurring judgment said that it would not like to continue with the contempt proceedings further

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