No single individual, institution, or action is to blame for this. The BJP is responding in kind -- definitely not without checking with its government. And they wait for Mr Trump, notes Shekhar Gupta.
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has criticized the BJP for its allegations that elements in the American "deep state" were behind attempts to destabilize India, saying this "attack-dog" behavior is an embarrassment to India. Tharoor's comments come after the US rejected the BJP's allegations, describing them as "disappointing" and asserting that the US government is a champion of media freedom. The BJP had alleged that the US deep state colluded with the media portal OCCRP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to "damage" India's image.
French police search finance ministry tax offices over Neymar transfer
The BJP accused Congress leaders of colluding with foreign forces to destabilize India and demanded Sonia Gandhi to disclose her role in a George Soros Foundation-funded organization's activities. The ruling party also attacked Rahul Gandhi, calling him a "pawn" for his protests against the Adani issue.
French investigative journal Mediapart has made fresh claims that alleged bogus invoices were used that enabled French aircraft maker Dassault Aviation to pay at least 7.5 million euros in secret commissions to a middleman to help it secure the Rafale deal with India.
The Congress urged Modi to come forward and order a JPC probe into the Rafale deal.
An internal document shows Dassault Aviation considered Reliance offset deal as a 'trade off' to clinch Rafale deal'.
France's Human Rights League (LDH) said on Thursday it would file a legal complaint against soccer club Paris Saint Germain (PSG) after an investigative website reported its scouts had for years listed the ethnic origins of young recruits.
A fresh political war of words erupted on Tuesday over the Rafale issue as the Bharatiya Janata Party accused the Congress leadership of corruption citing claims of a French media report on 'commissions' being paid during the United Progressive Alliance rule and said the Indian National Congress should be renamed 'I Need Commission' party.
One of the publications, the French investigative portal Mediapart, said Ronaldo and his Portuguese compatriot Mourinho had benefited from a tax optimisation system developed by their agent Jorge Mendes, who owns Gestifute.
The Congress on Monday sought a thorough probe in the Rafale defence deal and demanded answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after a French media report claimed that 1.1 million (Rs 9.5 crore) was paid to a "middleman" by the aircraft manufacturer.
French government said French companies have the full freedom to select Indian firms for the deal.
Rahul acting as 'agent' of rival firms, BJP alleges as Congress attacks govt on Rafale deal
French observers point out that Paris had no choice but to issue a denial given the importance of India's Rafale purchase for France's aerospace industry.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy allegedly received nearly 42 million pounds from former Libyan dictator Colonel Muanmmar Gaddafi during his election campaign in 2007, a media report said.
Hollande said only Dassault can comment on whether India had put pressure on Reliance and Dassault to work together.
The plea said that Gandhi's statements had hurt the sentiments of prime minister's supporters.
Union minister Gajendra Shekhawat had alleged that the UPA called off Rafale deal after a private company linked to Vadra was not chosen as a broker.
The BJP alleged that former French president Francois Hollande is part of the "nexus" to sabotage the procurement.
Ex-UEFA chief Michel Platini was arrested, on Tuesday, in connection with a probe into the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, a source close to the investigation said.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
France summoned the US ambassador to the Foreign Ministry today following revelations by WikiLeaks that the US National Security Agency eavesdropped on the past three French presidents. The NSA eavesdropped on the last three French presidents - Francois Hollande, Nicolas Sarkozy and Jacques Chirac between 2006-12.
The Congress chief also described Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's 3-day trip to France as part of a 'huge cover-up' by the government.
RM took stock of progress in production of the fighter jets whose delivery to India will begin in September next year.
French sources say Hollande was motivated to speak out after an Indian media report revealed that the Reliance Group had part-funded a film venture by his domestic partner, French actress Julie Gayet.
Macron, who assumed the presidency in May 2017, emphasised that this is a government-to-government discussion and "this contract is part of a broader framework which is military and defence" coalition between India and France.
The prime minister must clear his stand on the Rafale deal after Hollande's remarks, he said.
Defence Ministry says the report is being verified, maintaining that neither Indian nor French government had any say in the decision.
Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the Modi government and Anil Ambani over the Rafale issue, saying that in order to bag India's biggest defence contracts one has to be a "defaulter of Rs 45,000 crore" and have "no relevant experience".
The opposition does not have any issue left so it is raking up Rafale deal issue, Rajnath Singh said.
A report by the World Anti-Doping Agency on Monday is set to deepen an athletics scandal that, according to one of the document's authors, eclipses even the alleged corruption at football's governing body FIFA.
Prasad alleged there was pressure for extraneous considerations and 'bribe' for not finalising the Rafale deal during the UPA rule.
The scandal revolves around accusations that money was demanded from top athletes to 'bury' medical tests showing drug use
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances