Rafale deal: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) countered the demands of Congress party to initiate a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Rafale deal saying that such investigation could “expose the country’s defence preparedness to our enemies and opponents”. The ruling party also accused that there was “an international conspiracy” behind the attack on the government. BJP alleged Rahul Gandhi of being involved in a "conspiracy, internationally" to sabotage the fighter aircraft deal and benefit his brother-in-law Robert Vadra. BJP said that Gandhi is involved in a "conspiracy internationally" and former French president Francois Hollande is part of the "nexus" to sabotage the procurement, and claimed that the Congress chief wants it scrapped to help a firm linked to Vadra. On the other hand, in a veiled attack the Congress chief called Prime Minister Narendra Modi "India's commander-in-thief".

Separately, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, acknowledged that “there is a perception battle" over the Rafale deal by putting facts before the masses to counter the Congress' "false propaganda". She said the BJP will launch a nationwide campaign to counter the “smear” campaign by the Congress. She also alleged an "international dimension" to Congress president Rahul Gandhi's relentless allegations of corruption against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rafale deal but did not elaborate. "I, others will go around the country to put facts before the public. It is a matter of perception battle," she told reporters.

BJP has alleged that former French President Francois Hollande is part of the nexus to sabotage the deal to purchase fighter aircraft, with Gandhi doing "conspiracy, internationally".

(With inputs from PTI)