Rafale row: Nirmala Sitharaman attacks Congress, terms Rahul Gandhi's family as 'thieves'

Sitharaman's comment came after Rahul said Hollande "is calling PM Modi a thief", NDTV reported.

The controversy sparked after Hollande said India had asked the French government to nominate Indian industrialist Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence Industries as its partner in the Rafale deal.

Hollande was quoted as saying by French website Mediapart.

Sitharaman's reaction has been quoted by NDTV, "(Rahul Gandhi and Congress) betray their sense of desperation in being out-of-power. In our govt there is no corruption. No wonder today the buzz is #RahulKaPuraKhandanChor (Rahul Gandhi's entire family are thieves)."

Earlier in the day, Rahul attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and questioned his silence over the claims made by ex-French President Francois Hollande over the Rafale deal.

"It is upto the Prime Minister of India to clear his name on the issue," he said.

Speaking at a press conference, Rahul said: "Ex-President of France said 'We didn't have any say in this matter'. What he is saying is, PM of India is a thief," Gandhi.

Lashing out at the Congress president, Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Ravi Shankar Prasad, said: "Gandhi has made the comment against a popular PM. Never before in the history of independent India, has a party president used such words for a PM. We even cannot expect anything else from Rahul Gandhi."

"He has no quality or ability. He is holding the president's position due to his family," Prasad said addressing a press conference.

Prasad said: "There is evidence available that a proper MoU existed between Dassault and Reliance industry as early as on Feb 13, 2013, that means 1 year, 4 months before we came to power."

"Price negotiated by NDA is 9% less for basic aircraft and 20% less in case of fully loaded, as compared to UPA's price," he said.

Prasad accused that Rahul is trying to 'help' Pakistan by seeking the details of the Rafale fighter jets.

French government reacts:

The French government said they only played the role to ensure the delivery and quality of the aircraft.

"The intergovernmental agreement signed on 23rd September 2016 between the French and Indian governments for supplying India with 36 Rafale aircraft concerns the obligations of the French government solely with regard to ensuring the delivery and quality of this equipment," said the statement.

"The French government is in no manner involved in the choice of Indian industrial partners who have been, are being, or will be selected by French companies. In accordance with India’s acquisition procedure, French companies have the full freedom to choose the Indian partner companies that they consider to be the most relevant, then present for the Indian government’s approval the offsets projects that they wish to execute in India with these local partners so as to fulfil their obligations in this regard," it said.

It said: "As it happens, agreements have already been signed by French companies with many Indian firms, both public and private, under the framework of Indian laws."

Hollande Reiterates:

Despite the French government's contradiction, Hollande stood by his statement on Saturday.