Rafale row: Rahul proposes Joint Parliamentary Committee

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday hit back at Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over the Rafale deal after the latter attacked the erstwhile UPA government for stalling the purchase of the multirole combat fighter jets from France.

In a tweet, The Congress chief "thanked" Jaitley for "bringing the nation's attention back to the great Rafale Robbery," and proposed the establishment of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to look into the purchase of the 36 fighter jets from France.

"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!" he tweeted.

In retaliation, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah claimed that the Congress President's "lies" were evident by the difference in Rafale prices quoted in Delhi, Karnataka, Raipur, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Parliament.

"Why wait 24 hours when you already have your JPC-Jhoothi Party Congress. Your lies to fool the nation are self-evident when Rafale price you quote vary in Delhi, Karnataka, Raipur, Hyderabad, Jaipur & Parliament. But the nation's IQ is higher than yours!" he tweeted.

In an exclusive interview to ANI earlier in the day, Jaitley had said that the erstwhile UPA government, by deferring the Rafale deal, put India's security at risk.

"Why did you indefinitely delay it? Why did you abandon it? Did you not seriously compromise India's national security when you did this?" Jaitley asked.

The Finance Minister, who resumed office recently, also said that despite the Centre producing India's secrecy clause with France in the Parliament, Rahul Gandhi refuses to accept it. He also asserted the allegations made by the Congress were based on "complete falsehood".