Rafale deal verdict: Amit Shah asks Congress chief Rahul Gandhi to disclose his source of information

Giving a clean chit to the Narendra Modi government, the Supreme Court on Friday said that nobody questioned the procurement of the Rafale jets when the deal was finalised in September 2016, adding that questions were raised only after former French president Francois Hollande came out with a statement. The top court said that it can't be the basis of a judicial review in the deal. The top court bench, comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, and Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph said, "We are satisfied that there is no reason to doubt the process is followed and the need of aircraft is not in doubt.” “We can’t sit in judgment over the purchase of 36 aircraft against 126 fighter jets,” the court said. The court had reserved its verdict after a hearing on November 14, indicating it would not go into the contentious issue of pricing in the deal.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the matter was crystal clear from the beginning and that they have been saying that the allegations leveled by the Congress were baseless and was only to gain political mileage.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on SC dismisses petition seeking Court probe in #Rafale deal: The matter was crystal clear from the beginning and we have been saying that the allegations leveled by Congress were baseless and to gain political mileage. pic.twitter.com/G1Nfsv64j6

— ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2018

Here are the LIVE updates:

01.28 pm: Despite constant allegations by Rahul Gandhi, people of this country never doubted the integrity of BJP government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, says Amit Shah.

01.26 pm: I am not Rahul Gandhi that I will make baseless allegations, Amit Shah.

01.25 pm: We are ready for a debate on Rafale in Parliament, says the BJP president.

01.24 pm: If Congress had all the proof then why did they not go to the Supreme Court with it? Their B team was already there. JPC is formed only when there is a discussion in the house(Parliament), I challenge Congress for a discussion on it, says Amit Shah.

01.20 pm: All thieves gathered to call 'chowkidar' a thief, but the country never believed it: Amit Shah in response to Rahul Gandhi. 

01.18 pm: It was a government to government deal. Why was Rafale deal not finalised during 10 years of UPA rule, was commission not finalised: Amit Shah questions Rahul Gandhi.

01.17 pm: You have harmed the country's defence interests and you should disclose your source of information, says Shah to Rahul Gandhi.

01.16 pm: Want to ask Rahul Gandhi who was his source of information, says Shah.

01.15 pm: The Supreme Court judgment exposes Congress president Rahul Gandhi's politics of lies: BJP chief Amit Shah. 

01.15 pm: Rahul Gandhi should apologise for misleading the people of the country as well as our soldiers, says Amit Shah.

BJP President Amit Shah: Rahul Gandhi ji should apologize to the nation for misleading people. Want to ask Rahul ji what was the source of information on basis of which he made such big allegations? #RafaleDeal pic.twitter.com/v2kSjXAait

— ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2018

01.12 pm: I welcome the Supreme Court order on Rafale, truth has won; attempt was made to mislead people using lies: Amit Shah.

01.10 pm: We welcome the judgement of the Supreme Court, the truth has won. People were being misled by unfortunately the country's oldest party. Its a slap on politics of lies, says BJP president Amit Shah.

LIVE : Shri @AmitShah is addressing a press conference at BJP HQ. #SCNailsRaGaLies https://t.co/j7NMC3mjHp

— BJP (@BJP4India) December 14, 2018