An English-language daily's report on Rafale deal has once again brought the controversial defence deal to the front pages. The newspaper's report claimed that the Ministry of Defence's bureaucracy had concerns with the "parallel negotiations" that the Prime Minister's Office undertook with France.

Following the publication of the report, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has defended her government both in the Parliament and outside. "A newspaper published a file noting written by Defence Secretary. If a newspaper publishes a noting, then the ethics of journalism will demand that it also publishes the then Defence Minister’s reply as well," she said.

In the Parliament, Sitharaman accused that the opposition is playing into the hands of MNCs and other vested interests by trying to damage the defence deal. "They are not working in the interests of the Indian Air Force," she added.