I did what I felt was correct, Rajnath's reply to opposition on 'Shastra Puja'

The Indian government had chosen Dussehra, which fell on October 8 this year, for formally receiving the first of the 36 Rafale jets from France because of the auspiciousness of the occasion as well as for the fact that the festival symbolizes victory of good over evil.

Rajnath Singh had performed the Shastra Puja, a ceremony that he is know to perform every year in Lucknow in his personal capacity, upon the fighter jet after receiving it from French Defence Minister Florence Parly.

However, Rajnath Singh had been attacked on Twitter with users alleging him of sticking to superstitious practices. Pictures of lemons placed under the wheels of the jet and Rajnath Singh applying vermilion and placing a coconut on the front fuselage soon went viral on social media. A series of memes and cartoons followed, many of them caricaturing the jet to average Indian lorry that often has various graffiti inscribed upon it.