Rafale is in national interest, will bring Modi back in 2019: Sitharaman

Sitharaman alleged that the Congress government stalled the Rafale deal as it "didn't get money", and neglected national security concerns

In her nearly two-hour long defence in the Lok Sabha of the Narendra Modi government’s decision to purchase Rafale fighter jets, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday alleged that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government stalled the deal as it “didn’t get money”, and neglected national security concerns.

Replying to the discussion in the House, Sitharaman said the Congress has resorted to falsehoods to mislead the country. In her “point-by-point” rebuttal to the Opposition's allegations, including on the price of the aircraft, and the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) not getting the offset contract, Sitharaman said: “Defence ministry has been functioning without