Congress Party has accused former Union Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar of keeping important ‘Rafale’ documents hidden in his bedroom.

Controversy has erupted over the purchase of Rafele twin-engine, canard delta wing and multi-role fighter aircraft from the France-based Dassault Aviation with the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress party accusing each other of wrong-doings in concluding the deal. Congress has now said that it had sufficient ‘audio proof’ to show that Parikkar has hidden important Rafale-related documents in his bedroom.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi joined the debate in the Lok Sabha yesterday on the issue and listed many questions for the BJP-led Centre to respond to. Congress Party’s national spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala had earlier accused former Union Defence Minister and former Goa chief-minister Manohar Parikkar of keeping important Rafale deal related documents hidden in his bedroom. It may be recalled that health reasons forced Parikkar to relinquish the Defence portfolio which is now handled by Nirmala Sitharaman.

“When the Rafale deal was inked, Parikkar was in-charge of the Ministry,” Surjewala said. “If the Centre’s conscience is clear on the issue and if it says no wrong-doing took place, why should it not inform the country about the reality,” added Surjewala who had come to yesterday’s press conference with an audio clipping in his hands.

“The audio clipping is proof enough of the fact that Parikkar has Rafele related documents hidden in his bedroom. It is now for the Prime Minister to respond and unearth the secrets lying hidden in Parikkar’s home and bedroom. Goa Minister Rane has gone on record stating Parikkar had told him about the documents in his home,” Surjewala concluded.

Responding to Congress’ accusations, Rane said that it was a cheap tactic indulged in by the Congress which had used ‘mimicking’ tactics. “I’m sure Congress attempts to take revenge on me for having switched over to the BJP; it’s a fake audio clipping and I have nothing to fear about,” Rane said.