All India Congress Committee spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi (TOI file photo)

PANAJI: As the then defence minister, Manohar Parrikar was aware that defence procurement procedures were flouted during the 'off-the-shelf' purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft for € 7.5 billion, the Congress party alleged here on Monday.

Addressing the media in the state capital, All India Congress Committee spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said that Parrikar's continued silence on the issue was tantamount to a betrayal of the nation and the armed forces.

"It was happening under his watch," Chaturvedi said. "He knew about bypassing of the cabinet committee on security (CCS) norms, transfer of technology and not following of defence procurement procedure yet continues to maintain his silence and chooses not to answer."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's government had signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement with the French government to procure the Rafale combat aircraft in September 2016 while Parrikar served as the defence minister.

