Congress President Rahul Gandhi needs to apologise to the nation and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for spreading falsehood over the Rafale deal and compromising on the nation’s security, Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra Chief Minister, said here on Monday.

Addressing a press conference, the CM said, the Supreme Court verdict on the Rafale deal only shows how Rahul Gandhi sought to spread falsehood to gain political mileage.

Questioning the motives and wild allegations Rahul Gandhi made against the Prime Minister, Fadnavis said he wanted to know who was behind this move to tarnish PM’s image and in spreading the untruths. Knowing that the details of Defence deals cannot be shared, including pricing, as it was governed by non-disclosure clause in the interest of national security, Rahul Gandhi sought to spread falsehood about the prices being high, and the offset deal being handed over to Reliance. This was done as he knew its prices cannot not be made public. Fadnavis alleged the deal was not taken forward after finalising it in 2013 because there were no middlemen. In all the defence deals during Congress’ tenure, the CM alleged there were middle men.

He said even though this was a government-to-government deal, it was the prerogative of the OEM Dassault Aviation, the chosen supplier for the Rafale aircraft, to select its Indian partner.

“Even though a decision to acquire 126 aircraft was taken as early as 2001 during the NDA regime, the Congress could not close the deal after 13 years, jeopardising the nation’s interest,” he said.

”Now that the apex court has made it clear that there was no wrongdoing in in terms of pricing, procurement procedure and offset issues,” Rahul Gandhi owes an apologise to the nation, he said.

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