Finance, defence minister 'lied, misled' Parliament on Rafale: Antony

Senior Congress leader and former Defence Minister A K Antony Monday accused the NDA government of compromising on national security and said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman "lied" and "misled" Parliament about the process adopted for the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets.

Antony asked why the government was running away from a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe, saying it will determine who is corrupt and who is lying.

"The NDA government has seriously compromised national security by reducing the number of aircraft to be procured from 126 to 36. Why is Modi government refusing to form a JPC? Because they have something to hide. We demand JPC. Let the country know who is corrupt, who is lying. Let the country know the truth," he told reporters.

Antony asked why the Modi government is hiding the actual price of the aircraft in the new deal.

"Is it correct of Prime Minister Modi to violate Defence Procurement Procedure and bypass Defence