Rafale deal: Shameful that PM Modi is silencing you, Rahul Gandhi tells Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman

It's shameful that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is silencing Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet about the controversial Rafale deal.

The tweet, in which Rahul addressed Sitharaman directly, contained three specific questions.

Dear RM, what’s shameful is your boss silencing you. Please tell us : 1. Final price of each Rafale jet? 2. Did PM take CCS permission before announcing purchase in Paris? 3. Why PM bypassed experienced HAL & gave the deal to AA rated businessman with no defence experience?

- Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 18, 2017

Meanwhile, #RakshaMantriJawabDo trended on Twitter.

Nirmala Sitharaman has said the decision to make the emergency purchase was taken because the India Air Force had an urgent requirement. She said "all procedures had been followed".

The Congress has alleged that the government neglected the interests of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) - as Dassault Aviation, the French manufacturer of Rafale aircraft, refused to transfer technology to it - and instead entered into an agreement with Reliance Defence.

The party also alleged that the aircraft were being purchased at much higher rates than what was decided after the tender process was completed during the UPA government's tenure.

The BJP has said the allegation is intended to "divert attention," as Congress bigwigs face the prospect of being questioned in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scandal.

On its part, Reliance Defence Limited has said the Congress' allegations are "baseless and unfounded".

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