NEW DELHI: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a debate over the details of the Rafale fighter jet deal signed with the French government.

"I challenge PM Modi for a debate on the Rafale Deal. He will never accept this challenge, as he has been lying to the nation on the deal. Why is he running away from questions?" the Congress chief said while addressing a rally in Karnataka's Bidar.

The Congress chief reiterated the allegations against defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, alleging that she signed "a secret pact with the French government" on the purchase of Rafale fighter jets.

"Nirmala Sitaraman lied that the government cannot reveal the price of Rafale jets as there is a secrecy clause between India and France. But the French President told me in person said that price can be revealed if the Indian government wants to" he added.

He said the current government changed the deal, when it 'snatched' the order to built the fighter jets from the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL). "We told France that we will use the technology and make the jets in India. It would have created lakhs of jobs for aeronautical engineers. Modi came to power and changed the entire deal," he said.

The Congress president also targeted the Reliance Group chairman, Anil Ambani, saying that the industrialist had accompanied the PM during his French visit when the deal was finalized.

"Money and jobs have been snatched from the youth of Karnataka and given to Ambani," he alleged.

On the issue of waving loan of Karnataka farmers, the Congress leader challenged the Prime Minister to provide 50% of the farmers' loans waived off by the Karnataka government.

"I challenge PM Modi from this stage. Karnataka govt waived off loans of farmers. I challenge you (centre) to provide 50 per cent of the farm loan waived in Karnataka. If you have 56-inch chest, I dare you to do this. But you won't do this," he said while addressing a rally in Karnataka's Bidar.

