CONTROVERSY REIGNITED

A report by The Hindu said a defence ministry bureaucrat raised concerns over “parallel parleys” with French side by PMO officials

I have great respect for the august office of the PMO. But, I would regretfully say, the PMO almost behaved like a middleman in this defence transaction. They must answer to our direct charge

MANISH TEWARI, Congress spokesperson

The lie-manufacturing factory of Rahul Gandhi continues to operate and he has served us yet another lie PRAKASH JAVADEKAR, Union minister

Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the report made “absolutely black and white that the Prime Minister himself was carrying out a parallel negotiation with the French”

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the portion of the note published showed only half the truth because a handwritten reply by then defence minister Manohar Parrikar was not reported

In his file noting, Parrikar wrote: “It appears that PMO and French president’s office are monitoring the progress of the issue which was an outcome of the summit meeting.”

He said the last paragraph, which suggested a “revised modality of negotiations to be led by PMO” appeared to be an overreaction and suggested the defence secy resolve the issue with the private secy to the PM