Randeep Singh Surjewala hits out at BJP govt over Rafale deal

New Delhi, July 20: Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala on Friday took to Twitter to attack BJP government over the Rafale deal.

Rejecting the clarification from the French government, Surjewala said,"Is it not true that Dassault Aviation in its 'Annual Report, 2016' has disclosed the price of 36 Rafales as 7.5 Billion Euros ie Rs 1670 Cr per aircraft? Why is Modi Govt then hiding the price?"

Did the UPA Govt not disclose the price of INS Vikramaditya, Mirage aircraft, Sukhoi aircraft and Kaveri engine on the floor of the Parliament?

What prevents the Modi Govt from disclosing the #Rafale price then?

Is the wrong doing not apparent? 7/ pic.twitter.com/EG14r9JIp4

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) July 20, 2018

He also claimed that the MoS Defence also revealed the approximate price of each jet on 18.11.2016.

According to ANI, the French government has taken note of Rahul Gandhi's statement in the Parliament and issued a statement clarifying that India did sign a confidentiality agreement in 2008, which legally binds the two States to protect the classified information provided by the partner.

The French government further said,"These provisions naturally apply to the IGA concluded on 23 September 2016 on the acquisition of 36 Rafale aircraft and their weapons."

Earlier in the day, Speaking in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi said, " Defence minister is sitting here. She first said that she will reveal details of the jet prices. After that, defence minister clearly said that she can't reveal the figures because there is a secrecy pact between the French and Indian government. I met the French prime minister that is there a pact, but he said that there is no such pact between the two countries."