Here's what PM Modi said when asked about Rafale deal controversy

A question on the controversial Rafale deal has earned the displeasure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who countered it saying that those who levelled "false accusations" were never quizzed by the media.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Photo: ABP News

NEW DELHI: A question on the controversial Rafale deal has earned displeasure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who countered it saying that those who levelled "false accusations" were never quizzed by the media and that his government has already placed all the facts related to it in the Parliament. Modi, who is seeking a second term as prime minister, was speaking to ABP News in an exclusive interview, days ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha elections. Congress President Rahul Gandhi has been repeatedly hurling the "chowkidar chor hai" (watchman is the thief) jibe at Modi to claim irregularities and favouritism in the Rafale fighter jet deal, a charge the BJP-led government has rejected. When asked about alleged favouritism in the purchase of fighter jets from France, Modi referred to the Supreme Court verdict, in which the apex court had said that there was no reason to doubt the decision-making process in the multi-billion dollar. "Do you have faith in the Supreme Court or not and in the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)?" Modi asked. The apex court had in December last year dismissed all the petitions seeking a direction to the CBI to register an FIR for alleged irregularities in the Rafale deal. "Would you not believe in the statement issued by the French government and what the government has said in the Parliament?" the prime minister said. "Those who were spreading lies were never questioned. We answered their allegations on the floor of the Parliament but the accusers were left without being counter-questioned," he claimed. In the interview, Modi also spoke at length on critical issues including BJP's governance in the last 60 months, Balakot airstrike, BJP-PDP alliance in Jammu and Kashmir, the Nehru-Gandhi family, demonetisation and Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute.