Rafale Deal: In Fresh Salvo, Rahul Gandhi Conducts Twitter Poll To Ask 'Why Is Modi Govt Not Ready For JPC Probe'

The Congress party has once again raised the demand to conduct a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Rafale deal.

New Delhi: In another hit at the BJP-led union government, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi posted a poll on his Twitter account asking users to share why Modi government is not ready for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Rafale deal.

Congress has begun attacking the Modi government over Rafale deal once again after it was reported that a criminal investigation has been opened in France into the 2016 pact signed with India for the sale of 36 Dassault-built fighter jets.

In the fresh attack, Rahul Gandhi is conducting a poll on his Twitter account asking "why Modi government is not ready for a JPC probe into the Rafale deal".

This comes after Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Saturday said that "French website 'Mediapart' has made public all the evidence in the Reliance-Dassault deal".

"Modi Government's 'sweetheart' deal (Rafale Deal) is clear. Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi allow Joint Parliamentary Committee investigation now?" he questioned.

Congress has been stating from the beginning that the Supreme Court cannot investigate this matter and hence, the party did not approach the Supreme Court, Surjewala said, adding that the party maintains that the deal should be investigated through JPC.

Responding to this, Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Sambit Patra termed Congress's claims about the Rafale deal as lies. He said that the party and its former president have been lying to people be it about French President Emmanuel Macron's statement or approval of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).

"Congress is synonymous with lies and myths. Today they lied about Rafale deal, again. If a country's (France) NGO (Sherpa) complains over a charge and its financial prosecution body orders a probe accordingly, it should not be seen as corruption," he said.

Investigation In France

French publication 'Mediapart' on Friday reported that the criminal investigation will be conducted under the leadership of an independent magistrate "who will, among other elements, examine questions surrounding the actions of former French president François Hollande".

The financial crimes branch of the French public prosecution services (PNF) has stated that the investigation will look into allegations of corruption and favouritism in the pact for 36 fighter planes between the Indian government and French aircraft manufacturer Dassault.