New Delhi, March 7: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday demanded an investigation against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for delaying the delivery of the French jets to India, a day after the Centre told the Supreme Court that documents related to Rafale deal are stolen. While addressing the media on Thursday, the Congress President said that the stolen documents clearly state the Prime Minister was responsible for the delayed delivery and inflated price of the jets. Rafale Deal Documents Stolen From Defence Ministry, 'The Hindu' Story Violates Official Secrets Act: A-G Tells Supreme Court. 

Gandhi said if the documents have been stolen, that means they are authentic and they clearly state that parallel negotiations were carried out by the Prime Minister, the price of the jets were inflated and the delivery of the jets was delayed. "The government now says it will investigate the media for the Rafale files being stolen. But the one (Modi) who conducted parallel investigation why will he not be investigated?", Gandhi said. Rafale Fighter Jet Is a Game Changer, Supreme Court Delivered Fine Judgment, Says Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa. 

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During his address, Gandhi added saying that let there be investigation about the documents but at the same time also investigate the Prime Minister's role in the Rafale (deal). Gandhi referred to the government's arguments in the Supreme Court during hearing of petitions seeking recall of its December 14 verdict giving a "clean chit" on the purchase of the Rafale jets and said the sole objective of the government and its machinery was to defend the "chowkidar" (watchman).

The government on Wednesday told the top Court that documents related to Rafale deal were confidential papers and were stolen from the Defence Ministry. Full Text of Rafale Deal Verdict by Supreme Court.

Referring to the eight-page dissent note by the three members of India Negotiating Team (INT), Attorney General K.K. Venugopal told a bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice K.M. Joseph that it was being probed if the documents were stolen by former or present employees.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 07, 2019 12:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).