Protests against Rafale deal in Himachal on August 2

Shimla, July 28: The Congress will hold protests over the issue of Rafale deal on August 2 in all the 12 district headquarters of Himachal Pradesh, HPCC president Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said.

He said the Congress would submit memorandums to deputy commissioners in the name of the president, whereby Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be urged to explain to the nation why his government paid exorbitant price for the purchase of fighter jets as compared to the same deal struck by the previous Manmohan Singh-led UPA government.

Reiterating the allegations levelled by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi in Parliament during debate on no-confidence motion, Sukhu said, "The nation wants to know why Modi government paid Rs 60,145 crores for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets whereas, UPA-II had struck a deal of just Rs 18,940 crores for the same."

The Congress has been targeting the government over the fighter jet deal, alleging wrongdoings in it. The government has strongly rejected the charge.