NCP leader targets PM over stolen Rafale documents

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the NCP Wednesday wondered how confidential documents related to the Rafale deal could be stolen from the defence ministry and said the Centre's statement in the Supreme Court proves that "chowkidar" is indeed a "thief".

Maharashtra NCP president Jayant Patil said this is nothing but an attempt to cover-up Rafale "scam".

The government has told the Supreme Court that the documents related to the Rafale aircraft deal have been stolen from the defence ministry, Patil said.

This statement of Attorney General K K Venugopal in the apex court has led people to once again ask questions about the Rs 58,000-crore defence deal, the former Maharashtra minister said.

"How can confidential files be stolen from the defence ministry. Its a fact now that chowkidar (guard) is indeed a thief," the NCP leader said.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been repeatedly hurling "chowkidar chor hai" jibe at Modi to target him on the the Rafale deal in which the main oppositon party has alleged massive irregularities.

The ruling BJP and the NDA government have stoutly denied any corruption in the deal.