NEW DELHI: Congress on Friday reiterated its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the multicrore Rafale fighter deal. On the last day of the monsoon session, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi led party MPs in protesting against the Modi government on the Rafale deal, holding forth against the ruling party both inside and outside Parliament.

In the morning, Congress leaders assembled before the Gandhi statue in Parliament House and raised slogans alleging gross corruption by the Modi dispensation. In Rajya Sabha , Congress leader Anand Sharma demanded a short duration discussion on the Rafale deal, which was turned down by the chair. Leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad , however, kept up the pressure and said Parliament had always set up a JPC whenever there were serious allegations of corruption.

In Lok Sabha, Congress members stormed into the well of the House and raised slogans and waved placards of ‘Modi’s Rafale Gate’ and ‘JPC set up karo’ before the Speaker’s table.

Holding up a paper plane in his hand, Congress MP Sunil Jakhar even claimed he had more experience in making ‘jets’ than Anil Ambani, whose company won the defence offset contract as part of the Rafale deal.

“I can make a better Rafale (fighter aircraft), please give me the contract,” Jakhar mocked. Jakhar also asked how it was possible that India’s foreign secretary had no knowledge of the Rafale deal but the companies knew of it.

