Row over Rafale deal ‘perception battle’, will fight this: Nirmala Sitharaman

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is under Opposition’s attack over alleged irregularities in Rafale deal, on Monday said that the controversy over the aircraft deal was nothing but a “perception battle” and vowed to fight it by going to people.

“This is a perception battle. We will fight this battle. We'll go to places and state facts on record on Rafale. Congress designs to run a smear campaign against us at an international level,” ANI quoted Sitharaman as saying.

Also Read | On Rafale deal, Rahul Gandhi questions PM Modi’s integrity, calls him ‘corrupt’

Minutes after the defence minister’s statement, the BJP came out with another angle to counter’s Rahul Gandhi’s cutting attack on PM Modi and alleged that the campaign against the Rafale deal was part of Congress’ conspiracy to remove Narendra Modi.

“A conspiracy is being brewed to cancel the deal, a conspiracy is being brewed to lower the morale of the air force... behind it there is only one reason.. to remove prime minister Modi, BJP minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a press conference at the Bharatiya Janata Party office.

Also Read | Imran Khan calls India ‘arrogant’ after cancellation of 'peace talks'

“Congress is seeking the support of global and anti-national forces to remove Modi,” he alleged.

The Congress president has launched an all-out attack against Modi over the alleged conflict of interest in the Rafale deal. Gandhi said that the Modi government had chosen the Indian partner for Dassault Aviation, a French defence entity responsible for making the aircraft.