It’s time PM, Jaitley ‘ stop lying’: Rahul

New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday hit back at Arun Jaitley on the Rafale issue, saying it is time the finance minister and the prime minister “stop lying” and called for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe for an “uncorrupted truth” to come out.

New Delhi, Sept. 23: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday hit back at Arun Jaitley on the Rafale issue, saying it is time the finance minister and the Prime Minister “stop lying” and call for a Joint Parliamentary Committee ( JPC) probe for an “uncorrupted truth” to come out.

He accused Mr Jaitley of having the ability to spin “2 truths or lies” with “fake self- righteousness” and “indignation to defend the indefensible”.

“Mr Jetlie’s speciality is his ability to spin ‘ 2 truths’, or lies, with fake self righteousness and indignation to defend the indefensible. It’s high time he, the RM and our PM stop lying and call a JPC to establish the full, uncorrupted truth about the Rafale Scam ( sic),” Mr Gandhi tweeted.

He also tagged a media report highlighting how former French President Francois Hollande’s charges have hit the Modi government on the Rafale issue.

The Rafale controversy took a turn last week after former French president Hollande claimed that the Indian government proposed Reliance Defence’s name as the offset partner for Dassault Aviation.

In response, the French government said it was in no manner involved in the choice of Indian industrial

partners for the Rafale deal, asserting that French firms have the full freedom to select Indian companies for the contract.

Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma accused the Prime Minister of having “betrayed” the country and demanded that he respond to the charges made in connection with the deal instead of fielding his ministers.

“My direct charge is that the prime minister violated the oath of confidentiality. Only he could have

told Anil Ambani that HAL will be out and he will strike a deal to buy 36 jets and you ( Ambani) go and talk to Dassault Aviation ( the makers of Rafale jet),” Mr Sharma told reporters at a news conference.

“Why is the Prime Minister, who speaks on every issue, quiet. The one who is supposed to speak is quiet ( maun vratt). When the charges are directly against him, no one can speak on his behalf," the deputy leader of opposition in Rajya