On “Cushioned Sofas” Barb, Rahul Gandhi Points To 8,400 Crore Plane For PM

New Delhi:

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi – mocked for sitting on cushioned seats throughout an anti-farm rules tractor rally in Punjab the previous day – hit again these days by means of accusing Top Minister Narendra Modi of “losing” hundreds of crores on a suite of 2 customized Boeing airplanes that “didn’t simply have a cushion however plenty of luxurious beds for his convenience”.

Wondering the wish to spend such a lot of cash “when China is at our borders”, Mr Gandhi recommended PM Modi simplest sought after the planes – certainly one of which has been designated Air India One – as a result of “his pal Donald Trump (the US President) has one (Air Drive One)”.

Mr Gandhi’s remark induced an instantaneous reaction from resources within the govt, which identified that the procurement procedure for the planes – certainly one of which is for VVIPs – used to be began below the Congress-led UPA management and stated it had merely concluded the acquisition.

“Why do not you query them about this? It’s unusual that no person is looking concerning the Boeing 777 bought for this whopping quantity however everyone seems to be fast to indicate to a gaddi (cushion),” Mr Gandhi informed newshounds in Punjab’s Patiala these days – the second one day of this three-day rally.

“At the one, Top Minister Modi has purchased two airplane value Rs eight,000 crore. At the different, China is at our borders and our safety forces are braving harsh winters to offer protection to (us),” he stated, including that the cushions have been positioned there by means of well-wishers.

A picture of Rahul Gandhi on cushioned seats on a tractor had been tweeted by means of Union Minister Hardeep Puri

Mr Gandhi has been a vocal critic of the Narendra Modi govt on a number of fronts, together with its dealing with of the China border row; this morning the Congress chief declared the PM is “simplest obsessed together with his symbol” and had given away 1,200 sq. km of Indian territory to China.

Past due within the night time resources defended the federal government’s acquire of the planes – which used to be initiated in 2011 – and stated Mr Gandhi used to be entitled to “omit for the UPA govt” however to not his personal details.

The resources clarified that the planes, which belong to the Indian Air Drive, aren’t “the PM’s aircrafts” however had been supposed to be used by means of different VVIPs as properly.

Air India One, a customized Boeing 777 airplane for President, VP, PM arrived in Delhi remaining week

The method of acquisition started in 2011, the resources stated, including that by means of the next yr an inter-ministerial team had beneficial the Boeing 777 after ten conferences. The acquisition order used to be transferred to the Air Drive in 2013 and finished this yr, the resources defined.

The planes, they additional stated, had been supposed to switch the ones recently in use. Those are over 25 years outdated, “incapable of lengthy, trans-Atlantic flights… and also are gasoline guzzlers of epic proportions”.

Some of the planes in query – Air India One – landed at Delhi airport remaining week after its preliminary supply used to be behind schedule by means of the Covid pandemic. It’s equipped with state of the art missile defence programs and Self-Coverage Suites (SPS), era for which used to be offered by means of america for $190 million.

Overall, the planes cost Rs 8,400 crore, in line with information company PTI.

These days, the President, Vice President and Top Minister fly on Air India’s B747 planes which can be used for industrial site visitors when now not flying them.

With enter from PTI