Rafale debate highlights: Sitharaman ran away from my questions, says Rahul

A heated debate on the Rafale deal between Congress and BJP took place in the Lok Sabha. Catch Parliament winter session LIVE updates

3:17 PM

"Did they (opposition) sit down with the defence minister to find out pricing of the aircraft? Rs 670 crore has already been disclosed in the Parliament as the basic price. There is no record of the Rs 526 crore they quote," defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman says.

3:17 PM

"Are they (opposition) so irresponsible that they go go Pakistan for help? A Congress leader (without naming him/her) went to Pakistan and asked them for help in removing the BJP/PM Modi government from power in India," says defence minister.

3:15 PM

Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha: You are misleading country by saying NDA govt reduced 126 Rafale jets to 36. Congress was supposed to buy 18 fly-away, the NDA raised it to 36.

3:15 PM

Congress quoting different prices on Rafale deal, says Defence Minister during debate in the Lok Sabha.

3:13 PM

Rs 670 crore already declared as basic price in the Parliament, said Nirmala Sitharaman.

3:12 PM

Congress campaign has misled the country, said Nirmala Sitharaman.

3:11 PM

Our price 9% lower than UPA's price, says Sitharaman

3:10 PM

Sitharaman: How many times has the Congress party invoked the Secrecy law?

3:08 PM

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha: A Congress spokesperson had said that Congress will not discuss India's defence deals with a foreign head of state, this discussion the Govt has to do with France and not us.

 

Rahul Gandhi on 20 July in Parliament  said, "I asked the French President about this secrecy pact but he denied its existence. He also told me that he has no issues in making the cost public." Who is truthful? One of them is misleading the country. I want proof of this.

3:07 PM

Nirmala Sitharaman resumes speech a minute after disruption. 

3:06 PM

Two sqadrons are bought always during emergency, says Sitharaman

 

Sitharaman said 18 fly-aways have been enhanced to 36. She asked the  Congress who had reduced the squadrons purchase to 2. She cited examples of defence dealings by Congress during wars or emergency situations in the past.

 

"You are misleading country by saying NDA govt reduced 126 Rafale jets to 36. Congress was supposed to buy 18 fly-away, the NDA raised it to 36," she said.

3:05 PM

Sitharaman cites 1982 emergency situation with Pakistan and 1985 while talking about emergency purchases.

3:04 PM

Why did they procure AgustaWestland choppers and not HAL manufactured copters, Sitharaman on Rafale debate 

 

Nirmala Sitharaman raked up the Christian Michel controversy to counter Congress over the Rafale controversy. She said if the Congress cared so much about HAL why did they not give the contract of manufacturing VIP choppers to the public sector company. "Why did they used Christian Michel to procure AgustaWestland choppers. Is it because HAL was not giving you anything else apart from the helicopters," Sitharaman asked.

3:03 PM

Rahul Gandhi requests Speaker to allow him to ask one question, Speaker rejects

 

Rahul Gandhi rose up in the middle of Nirmala Sitharaman's reply and urged the Speaker to give him chance to respond to Sitharaman because she named him in her speech. Speaker responded saying she would get a chance to ask a counter question, and to respond to whatever the minister has said naming you.

3:03 PM

Nirmala Sitharaman:

 

"This entire campaign has been on falsehoods and irresponsible allegations. I will ask a few questions now."

 

"We were told by Congress spokesperson that we shall not be talking on Rafale, because its an internal matter. On March 9, before Rahul Gandhi met French President Macron, Congress spokesperson told the media: Congress will not discuss India's defence deals with a foreign head of state. This is internal matter. This discussion the government has to do with France, not us."

 

"However, On July 20 in the Parliament, Rahul Gandhi says: 'I asked the french President about the secrecy pact but he denied the existence of such a pact. He said he has no issues in making the cost public.' Who is truthful here? The Congress spokesperson or Rahul Gandhi?"

 

The Congress is building the whole thing on falsehoods, she adds.