NEW DELHI: Dismissing allegations against the 36 Rafale jets deal, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman here today said that there can be no comparison between the Bofors guns scam and the procurement of the fighter jets.“Don’t compare it (Rafale deal) with the Bofors. There is no scam here,” Sitharaman told reporters when asked whether the Rafale deal will go the Bofors way.There were allegations that pay-offs were made in procurement of the artillery guns from Swedish arms manufacturer AB Bofors in late 1980s during the then Congress government. The allegations and its subsequent political ramifications had severely crippled the Indian Army's procurement of artillery guns.Sitharaman also said said that she would welcome if the Congress raises the issue of procurement of Rafale jets when the budget session of the Parliament reconvenes from Monday. “I welcome them to raise it,” she said.The Congress has been increasing its attack on the government over the Rafale issue. Calling it a scam, the Congress alleges that the deal negotiated under its rule was much cheaper than the contract signed by the Modi government to procure 36 Rafale jets from France.A K Antony, who was the defence minister in the UPA government and was part of the previous deal to procure 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), in an interview to ET was asked to respond on Sitharaman saying that he had taken back the files when negotiations for the Rafale in UPA regime. He claimed, “After our negotiations with Rafale and before moving the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), I had — as per the norm — approached the finance ministry for financial approval. The finance ministry said the lifecycle cost clause in the agreement was a new concept and thus not acceptable to them. Simultaneously, I also received representations from many others, including some responsible then-Opposition (BJP) leaders, objecting to the lifecycle cost clause. All this (happened) while IAF was intensifying its push for early acquisition of the fighter jets.“As our government’s term was coming to an end, and as I could not have moved directly to the CCS without finance ministry clearance — had I, it would have led to a major controversy —and, as IAF was pressing for early purchase, I decided to call the files and made a clear noting to the effect that the final proposal must be sent to the CCS only after the dispute over the lifecycle cost clause is settled. So, it was not a case of “taking back the files” but making clear notings on the file on future directions,” he said.MOD sources, however, said, “nothing justifies the defence minister getting into conversation while the contract negotiation stage is on. And the Finance Ministry does not get into the picture.”What has also come to light is the cost of the 36 Rafales of the current deal, which are to be bought in a flyaway condition, is 7889.54 million euros or 7.9 billion euros, according to sources. Under the MMRCA deal, only 18 Rafales were to procured in flyaway condition, while the remaining 108 were to be license manufactured in India. A reason why the two deals should not be compared is due to different figures of jets being procured in flyaway condition. However, due to the allegations if one has to compare, then the 18 jets of the MMRCA deal have to be multiplied by two, to be put at 36. So, the “notional cost” of 36 jets of the previous project is 9502.30 million euros of 9.5 billion euros, said sources.“However, if you are comparing the two deals on common parameters, just as a basic aircraft, without the weapons and other deliverables, then the per aircraft cost of the existing deal is 91 million euros. The per aircraft cost of the previous deal would have come to 99 million euros,” explained sources.