CONTROVERSY REIGNITED

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

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