Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday threatened to play an audio tape in Lok Sabha , saying that it claims former Defence Minister and Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has the Rafale files with him.
However, Gandhi had to drop the idea as he faced protests from the treasury benches and insistence from Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to authenticate the tapes.
Pandemonium broke out when Gandhi took out his mobile phone and wanted to play the recorded conversation amidst stiff opposition from the ruling benches, including Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who alleged that after concocting French President Emmanuel Macron on the issue of disclosing the price, Gandhi was now trying to play a conversation which he knew was false.
Congress releases audio tape of Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Pratapsingh Rane, claims Rafale deal files in 'Manohar Parrikar's bedroom'
The drama unfolded during a discussion on the Rafale deal on which the Congress has been pressing for constitution of a Joint Parliamentary Committee.
As shouting continued, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan asked Gandhi to authenticate the purported conversation and sternly told him not to play any recording.
"They are so afraid, I will not play the tape and if it pleases you but...," he said adding he would read from the taped conversation.
Jaitley interjected to say that Gandhi knew it was false and was refusing to authenticate it.
"You know it is false," Jaitley told Gandhi. "Because he knows it is false... he lies repeatedly." The Finance Minister also referred to Gandhi's statement on Macron and said it too was false and fabricated.
