Even in 'Staged' Interview, PM Modi Didn't Have Guts to Speak on Rafale: Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha

New Delhi: Terming PM Modi's interview to a news agency as "staged", Congress president Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday that the prime minister spoke for one and a half hours but still had no answers on Rafale.

The statement triggered an uproar in the Lok Sabha, with Union Minister Arun Jaitley saying that he was "utterly disappointed" with Gandhi's remarks.

"The questions of Rafale occur on three pillars — the first pillar being the process, the second pillar is on pricing and the third pillar is on paisa (patronage). These are questions we have been asking the PM from the beginning," the Congress president said, amid slogans by the BJP government.

Gandhi further said that Anil Ambani is "a failed business". "Anil Ambani opens the company ten days before the Rafale deal and the prime minister orders the deal to go to him. Why did you take this Rafale contract from Dassault and give it to your close friend?"​ he asked.

In a interview to news agency ANI, PM Modi had said on Tuesday that Congress was not able to give any "real evidence" (on Rafale), and just keep talking.

"Unko yeh bolne ki beemari hai toh mujhe kya baar baar ussi me ulajhna chahiye kya (If they have this problem of talking about it then should I too get entangled in it)," PM Modi said.

The prime minister further said that those levelling allegations on him are actually weakening the Indian security forces. He added that in spite of allegations from the Congress in the Rafale deal, he will continue to expedite the procurement process in defence so that country’s security is not compromised.

"Those people who want to weaken the Army are levelling allegations. Should I worry that they are making personal attacks on me, or whether my country’s needs should be met? I decided that whatever abuses are hurled at me, whatever allegations are levelled against me, I will continue on the path of honesty and give primacy to the country’s security. I won’t leave my Army jawans merely to their fate. Whatever be their requirement, I will expedite the procurement processes. I will do it even if allegations are levelled me," PM Modi had said.