Focus on Rafale as Rahul Gandhi attacks Narendra Modi and Nirmala Sitharaman during no-confidence motion

Rafale is back in focus. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday made an allegation against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

During the Lok Sabha debate on the no-confidence motion, Gandhi said that Sitharaman claimed there was a secrecy pact with the French Government on the Rafale aircraft deal.

The Congress leader said that Modi had a close relationship with a particular businessman and the Rafale contract was given to him after taking it away from HAL.

He asked: "Why was the contract taken away from HAL and the youngsters of Karnataka and given to this businessman who has a debt of Rs 30,000 crore?”

Gandhi asked the prime minister whether the Cabinet Committee for Security took this decision.

The defence minister objected to it and the speaker said that "she would be given opportunity to explain your position".