New Delhi, Sep 25: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday paid tribute to martyrs, making a veiled attack on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government over Rafale fight jet deal. Addressing family members of martyred jawans and employees of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Rahul Gandhi said those dishonoured and robbed them will be held accountable.

"To every Air Force officer and Jawan who has served India. To the family of every martyred Indian fighter pilot. To every person who ever worked for HAL. We hear your pain. We understand how you feel. We will bring to justice all those who dishonoured and stole from you," Gandhi tweeted. The HAL was dropped by the Modi government as Rafale manufacturer Dassault Aviation's Indian partner. Rafale Deal: Rahul Gandhi Calls Narendra Modi 'India's Commander In Thief'.

Instead of the HAL, which has a reputation of building aircraft, Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence was made a partner in the Rafale jet deal with France. According to the Modi government, it was Dassault that chose its India partner for offsets and that the government had no say in the deal.

A political storm erupted after former France President Francois Hollande's claim to a French website that "Reliance Defence partnership with Dassault Aviation was entered at the suggestion of the Indian Government".

The deal to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets from France was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 and signed in 2016. The UPA government was earlier negotiating a deal to procure 126 Rafale jets, with 18 to come in flyaway condition and 108 to be manufactured by HAL under licence.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 25, 2018 02:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).