ANI accesses the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s reply to MoD dissent note on #Rafale negotiations."It app… https://t.co/IbwqLnz0kX — ANI (@ANI) 1549610031000

DM @nsitharaman too lied. Former French President has admitted that he was made to choose Anil Ambani by PM Modi hi… https://t.co/UEGv5aQvz7 — Congress (@INCIndia) 1549603633000

Defence Secretary of India says, "It is desirable that such discussions be avoided by the PMO as it undermines our… https://t.co/j8quQC1ACX — Congress (@INCIndia) 1549604012000

NEW DELHI: Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday lashed out at the Congress after the latter, citing a media report, alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's Office carried out "parallel negotiations" in the Rafale defence deal .In a press conference, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said that it is clear that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is directly involved in the defence deal.The media report in question was published on Friday and had alleged that at the height of negotiations over the Rafale defence deal between India and France, the defence ministry, in a dissent note, had "objected" to "parallel negotiations" being conducted by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) with the French side.Later in the day, the defence minister said that all the questions related to the defence deal have already been answered by the government and alleged that the media report is "motivated"."Then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar ji replied to that MoD note that remains calm, nothing to worry, everything is going alright," the defence minister replied on the floor of the Lok Sabha.The defence minister further said that if the newspaper published a file noting written by defence secretary then the ethics of journalism will demand that the newspaper publishes the then defence minister’s reply as well.Meanwhile, news agency ANI accessed the reply of the then defence minister Manohar Parrikar to the dissent note. "It appears PMO and French President office are monitoring the progress of the issue which was an outcome of the summit meeting. Para 5 appears to be an over reaction," read the reply.Earlier today, in the press conference, Rahul repeatedly called the Prime Minister a 'thief' and asked him to answer his questions on the defence deal."PM Modi himself robbed Air Force's Rs 30,000 crore and gave it to Anil Ambani, we have been raising this issue for over a year. Now a report has come where Defence Ministry officials say that PM was holding parallel negotiations with France Govt," the Congress president said during a press conference.Rahul reiterated his demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate the Rafale defence deal."We've been saying that there should be an inquiry through JPC. Now Ministry itself has said, 'we may advise PMO that any officers who are not part of Indian Negotiating Team may refrain from having parallel parlays'," the Congress president said.The Congress president, quoting from the report, said that the (former) defence secretary had urged the PMO to avoid such discussions as they "undermine" their negotiating positions.Shortly after the Congress' press conference, G Mohan Kumar — who was the defence secretary of India at the time of negotiations for the Rafale defence deal— said that the dissent note cited in the media report has "nothing to do with the the pricing of the aircraft"."It was about sovereign guarantees and general terms and conditions," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, speaking from the floor of Lok Sabha, demanded a JPC to probe the deal."We demand a joint parliamentary committee, everything will be revealed then, we don't want any explanation now, have heard many explanations, from PM also," he said.Read this story in Bengali