The Congress on Saturday accused the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of lying to the people of the country and demanded to know why an “extra payment” of Rs 41,000 crore was made to Dassault Rafale for the purchase of 36 aircraft.

At a press conference held in New Delhi on Saturday, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that there is no difference in the specifications of the aircraft ordered by the Indian Air Force (IAF) during the UPA reign and that under the Modi government.

“Information in public domain now affirms that according to the ‘Air Staff Qualitative Requirements’ (ASQR) provided by the Indian Air Force (IAF) there were 13 ‘India Specific Enhancements’ demanded by India during the 126 aircrafts MMRCA contract issued by Congress-UPA Government,” said Surjewala.

“In fact, the Rafale aircraft being purchased earlier (UPA government) and now (Modi government), including ‘its associated systems and weapons’, are the same as tested and approved by IAF during UPA reign,” he said citing the Joint Statement dated 10 April 2015 issued by French President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Surjewala said that the Modi government’s claim that the cost is increased on account on additional technical specifications is “blatantly false”.

“Is BJP trying to say that Indian Air Force and the then Congress Govt were buying Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) for ‘joyrides’ instead it being a combat aircraft for defending our country?” he asked.

“Will Modi government state the reason for extra payment of Rs 41,000 crore from Public Exchequer – from Rs 526 crore per aircraft to Rs 1,670 crore per aircraft – if the India Specific Enhancements are the same?

The Congress leader said that the government delayed the purchase of the aircraft by signing a fresh deal without the Transfer of Technology and compromised national security by unilaterally purchasing only 36 aircrafts instead of 126 without consulting the IAF.

Accusing the PM of lying to the nation, the Congress also demanded to know why the deal was called ‘emergency purchase’ when the first aircraft will be delivered in September 2019 and all 36 by September 2022.

“With the looming threat of China and Pakistan, does it not compromise India’s National Security?” Surjewala asked.