What is Rafale deal and what are the controversies around it?

Reacting to the political warfare and Congress accusations, France reiterates that the Rafale deal is in India's best interest. However, Rahul Gandhi then tweeted that "Self "Reliance" is obviously a critical aspect of "Make in India. Can you explain "Reliance" on someone with nil experience in aerospace for Rafale deal?" 

Refuting Rahul Gandhi's claims Defence Minister Nirmala Sithraman said that allegations relating to the procurement deal for 36 Rafale fighter jet were "shameful" and that such bickering was a "disservice" to the armed forces.

Hitting back at the Defence Minister, Rahul Gandhi asked the minister that why her boss is "silencing" her. Gandhi asked a number of questions related to Rafale to PM Modi and the Defence Minister. 

Reacting to him, Sitharaman slammed the previous UPA government for not taking a decision on the Rafale fighter jet deal for about 10 years and said she could not spell out in detail what happened due to the delay as it involved the nation's security.

The Reliance Group firm has maintained that the joint venture between Reliance Aerostructure Ltd and Dassault Aviation was a bilateral agreement between two private companies and had nothing to do with the government.

Nirmala Sitharaman also clarified that all the provisions of Defence Procurement Procedure have been followed and the inter-governmental agreement on the Rafale deal was signed only after the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Security.

Modi government ruled out any possibility of issuing a white paper on Rafale deal. 

In a scathing attack on government over Rafale deal, Rahul Gandhi said that he met the French President and the French government had denied presence of any pact with India. Furthermore, according to Rahul Gandhi French President also said that he did not have any issue if the details of the Rafale deal should be made public. 

"It was an agreement of secrecy. Protection of classified information. I am not privy to what the French President told Rahul Gandhi. But I am referring to two particular interviews that the French President had given to Indian TV channels", the Defence Minister said. 

“We have noted the statement of Mr Rahul Gandhi before the Indian Parliament. France and India concluded in 2008 a Security agreement, which legally binds the two States to protect the classified information provided by the partner, that could impact security and operational capabilities of the defence equipment of India or France.These provisions naturally apply to the IGA concluded on 23 September 2016 on the acquisition of 36 Rafale aircraft and their weapons. As the President of the French Republic indicated publicly in an interview given to India Today on 9th March 2018, ‘In India and in France, when a deal is very sensitive, we can’t reveal all details’," Spokesperson of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs said in Paris.

BJP MPs decided move a privilege motion against Rahul Gandhi for putting forth falsehood and misleading the Parliament. However, the Congress maintained his claims as before. 

Anil Ambani's Reliance Group companies have filed a Rs 5,000 crore defamation suit against Congress-owned National Herald, claiming an article published in the newspaper regarding the Rafale fighter jet deal was "libellous and derogatory".

They also filed a second, similar suit against Gujarat Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil seeking Rs 5,000 crore in damages for defamation.The two suits were filed by Reliance Defence, Reliance Infrastructure and Reliance Aerostructure, which belong to Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group.