Rafale deal: Congress stages protest against government; JPC deadline running out, Rahul Gandhi 'reminds' Arun Jaitley

Workers of Congress' youth wing on Thursday staged a protest against the Centre over the Rafale fighter aircraft deal in the national capital.

Hundreds of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers today staged a protest against the Centre over the Rafale fighter air craft deal. Photo: Twitter/IYC

NEW DELHI: Workers of Congress' youth wing on Thursday staged a protest against the Centre over the Rafale fighter aircraft deal in the national capital. Leaders and activists from several state units of Indian Youth Congress have gathered outside the Congress headquarters alledging the BJP-led NDA government "misled" the nation by quoting "illogical and imaginary data" on the Rafale deal. "Rafale deal is the biggest scam. Why is the central government not forming Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the deal?," IYC president Keshav Chand Yadav asked. In view of protest march, heavy police deployment has been made near the Congress headquarters at Akbar Road. Earlier in the day, Congress President Rahul Gandhi reminded Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely that less than six hours were left to set up a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the Rafale deal. On Wednesday, the Congress President demanded that the Centre should form a JPC to probe the 'Great Rafale Robbery' and gave Jaitley 24 hours to 'check and revert' on the same. Gandhi said: "Dear Mr Jaitley, Less than 6 hrs left for your deadline on the #Rafale JPC to run out. Young India is waiting. I hope you're busy convincing Modi Ji and Anil Ambani Ji about why they should listen to you & approve this!"

Dear Mr Jaitley,

Less than 6 hrs left for your deadline on the #Rafale JPC to run out. Young India is waiting. I hope you're busy convincing Modi Ji and Anil Ambani Ji about why they should listen to you & approve this! @ArunJaitley — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 30, 2018

The Congress chief's attack comes after Jaitley on Wednesday termed the Congress' charges on the defence deal a "complete falsehood" in his blogpost. "Mr Jaitley, thanks for bringing the nation's attention back to the 'GREAT RAFALE ROBBERY'. How about a Joint Parliamentary Committee to sort it out? Problem is, your 'Supreme Leader' is protecting 'his friend', so this may be inconvenient. Do check and revert in 24 hours. We're waiting," Gandhi said on Twitter on Wednesday after Jaitley spoke on the deal.

Mr Jaitley, thanks for bringing the nation’s attention back to the GREAT #RAFALE ROBBERY! How about a Joint Parliamentary Committee to sort it out? Problem is, your Supreme Leader is protecting his friend, so this may be inconvenient. Do check & revert in 24 hrs. We’re waiting!

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 29, 2018