Eager to debate with PM Modi on Rafale: Rahul Gandhi

Holding a press conference, Rahul, reiterating "Chowkidar chor hai (watchman is thief), said: "I would like to debate with the Prime Minister one-on-one on Rafale. Just give me 20 minutes to debate on Rafale and decide what is what. But he doesn't have the guts. He doesn't even meet you (media)."

On Wednesday, the Congress has brought out a tape which a Goa minister purportedly claims that former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar possesses files with all the of the India-France Rafale jet deal.

In the audio clip, which Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjwala had played before reporters earlier, Goa minister Vishwajit Rane purportedly speaks to ‘X’, saying chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who was Defence Minister at the time of the Rafale agreement, has all files in his bedroom and is holding the Modi government to ransom and not leaving his post despite illness.  

Though Rahul tried to play it in the Lok Sabha, the Speaker asked the Congress chief to authenticate the tape before playing it after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley raised an objection.

In a sharp attack against the Prime Minister, Rahul said: "The country knows the truth. Narendra Modiji can't hide and the truth will remain as it is."

The Congress supremo also raised a few questions for Modi to answer. He said the Prime Minister should answer on whose decision the price of the Rafale deal was increased and why the contract was given to inexperienced Anil Ambani instead of HAL, which had earlier made aircraft.

Jaitley called this Parrikar tape fabricated, and said there is no procedure to play it in the House.   

However, the Supreme Court last year said proper process was followed in signing the deal, giving a clean chit to the Modi government.

Image: Congress Twitter