Rahul asks PM Modi, Jaitley to 'stop lying' on Rafale deal, reiterates JPC demand

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday escalated his attack on the Narendra Modi government saying it is time the prime minister, the finance minister and the defence minister "stop lying" and call for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe for an "uncorrupted truth" to come out.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi. Photo: PTI

NEW DELHI: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday escalated his attack on the Narendra Modi government saying it is time the prime minister, the finance minister and the defence minister "stop lying" and call for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe for an "uncorrupted truth" to come out. Referring to Arun Jaitley as "Mr. Jetlie", Gandhi accused him of having the ability to spin "2 truths or lies" with "fake self-righteousness" and "indignation to defend the indefensible". "Mr Jetlie's speciality is his ability to spin '2 truths', or lies, with fake self righteousness and indignation to defend the indefensible. It's high time he, the RM and our PM stop lying and call a JPC to establish the full, uncorrupted truth about the Rafale Scam (sic)," Gandhi tweeted. He also tagged a report of The Telegraph Calcutta highlighting how former French president Francois Hollande's charges have hit the Modi government on the Rafale issue. The Opposition has cornered the Modi government on the politically-charged Rafale deal after former French president Francois Hollande claimed that the Indian government had proposed the name of Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence as the Indian partner for Dassault Aviation, the makers of Rafale.

Mr Jetlie’s speciality is his ability to spin “2 truths”, or lies, with fake self righteousness & indignation to defend the indefensible. It’s high time he, the RM & our PM stop lying and call a JPC to establish the full, uncorrupted truth about the #RafaleScam. pic.twitter.com/iQxrV5ooN5

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 23, 2018

Jaitley has defended Modi on the Rafale issue, saying the French government and Dassault Aviation have categorically denied the correctness of the former president's first statement. He said the French government has stated that the decision with regard to the offset contracts of Dassault Aviation are taken by the company and not the government. "This puts to rest the controversy which is sought to be created on the basis of a statement made by the former French president Hollande," he said.