NEW DELHI: Congress on Wednesday asked BJP if the Rafale deal was so above board, then why was the Centre reluctant to accept the opposition’s demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the purchase.

Upping the ante in the wake of finance minister Arun Jaitley ’s response to Congress’s allegations, party chief Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “Mr Jaitley, thanks for bringing the nation’s attention back to the great Rafale robbery! How about a JPC to sort it out? Problem is, your supreme leader is protecting his friend, so this may be inconvenient. Do check and revert in 24 hours. We’re waiting.”

Congress spokesman Manish Tewari questioned arguments put forth by Jaitley and said the issue could easily be settled with two facts. “At what price did you purchase the aircraft and what was the final negotiated price in 2012? Why is the government, if it claims it is transparent, shying away from placing these figures before the country?” he asked.

Tewari quoted the joint statement of PM Narendra Modi and the French President, which said the aircraft and associated systems and weapons delivered would be the same as approved in the tests. “It completely demolishes the very feeble defence that the finance minister tried to put forth,” he said.

