Panaji, January 30: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday wrote to Congress President Rahul Gandhi and accused him of politicising their "personal" meeting. In his letter, Parrikar said that there was no mention of the Rafale Deal in the 5-minute meeting that took place between the CM and the Congress President. Parrikar has accused Gandhi of using him for political gains ahead of Lok Sabha Elections 2019. Manohar Parrikar 'Clearly Stated' He Has Nothing To Do With New Rafale Deal 'Orchestrated' by PM Narendra Modi to Benefit Anil Ambani, Says Rahul Gandhi.

"I feel let down that you have used this visit for your petty political gains. In the 5 minutes you spent with me, neither did you mention anything about Rafale, now did we discuss anything related to it," the Goa CM wrote in his letter to Gandhi.

Full Text of Manohar Parrikar's Letter to Rahul Gandhi

Parrikar's letter came after Gandhi claimed that the Goa CM has told him that he had nothing to do with the new Rafale deal signed between the Narendra Modi government and France. "Friends, the ex-defence minister clearly stated that he has nothing to do with the new deal that was orchestrated by Mr Narendra Modi to benefit Anil Ambani," Gandhi told booth level party workers in Kochi, hours after his "courtesy" meeting with Parrikar. Manohar Parrikar, Ridiculed For 'How's The Josh' Remark, Says He's in 'Full Hosh' And Will Serve Goa Till Last Breath.

Gandhi paid a 'courtesy visit' to Parrikar at the CM Office in Goa Vidhan Sabha in Panaji on Tuesday. According to reports, in a 15-minute interaction with the Goa CM, Gandhi inquired about Parrikar's health and gave him best wishes for a speedy recovery. Rahul Gandhi Meets Manohar Parrikar in Goa Amid Rafale Deal Row.

Rahul Gandhi's meeting with Manohar Parrikar came days after the Congress accused the Goa CM of keeping Rafale files with him "in his bedroom". The Congress had earlier this month released a purported audio clip of Goa cabinet minister Vishwajit Rane, in which he was heard saying that Parrikar was holding Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to ransom over Rafale fighter jet deal with France.

Citing the audio, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had said that Manohar Parrikar had all documents related to the Rafale deal in his bedroom and was blackmailing the Modi government. Rane, on the other hand, had termed the audio clip "doctored" and had told BJP president Amit Shah to ask the state government to order an inquiry into the matter.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 30, 2019 04:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).