The multi-billion-dollar Rafale fighter jets deal between India and France took the centre stage in Gujarat polls battle ground on Saturday.

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi raised questions about the deal and made serious allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly tweaking the deal “without consulting anyone, to favour an industrialist.”

Addressing a public meeting in Dahegam, Rahul asked the Prime Minister: “There is a difference in the cost of aircraft in the first and the second contract. Did India pay more or less money in the second contract? Has the industrialist, who was given the contract, ever manufactured planes?” He also raised doubts on whether proper procedures were followed in signing the deal. “When Modiji went to France, he changed the Rafale contract without consulting anyone and awarded the contract to his industrialist friend, who knows nothing about aircraft-making,” Rahul alleged.

Later on Saturday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitly came in the Prime Minister’s defence and stated the government has followed proper procedure in the Rafale deal.

The BJP-led NDA government had in September 2016 inked an inter-governmental agreement with France for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around ₹58,000 crore.

Addressing the media in Ahmedabad, Jaitley stated: “It is a government-to-government deal and that is a different process. The other way is tendering. He (Gandhi) may be raising this issue because he does not have any experience in governance.”

Jaitley claimed that a decision on the Rafale deal had been hanging since 10 years. “There was a non-performing UPA government at the Centre. They could not take a decision in 10 years,” he said, adding that the deal was to empower the Indian Air Force. On Rafale choosing Anil Ambani’s Reliance Group as a partner, Jaitley said it was the company’s decision and the government played no role in it.

Jaitley also questioned the timing of the Congress’ allegations. “The deal was done 2.5 years ago. Questions are being raised now. This is part of a motivational campaign.”

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