The Congress has asked why the government was not setting up a joint parliamentary committee to probe the fighter jet deal.
Earlier in the day, former defence minister A K Antony questioned the Modi government, saying if the fighter aircraft purchased by them was cheaper, whey didn't the government buy more than 126.
AK Antony accuses Nirmala Sitharaman of 'supressing facts'
Only the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) can decide on the number of aircraft and weaponry required, Antony said and added that Modi's announcement in 2015 to procure only 36 jets was a "grave violation" of the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP).
Petitioner advocate M L Sharma told the bench that he wants to file some additional documents in the case and therefore the matter should be adjourned.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman answered questions from India TV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma in "Aap Ki Adalat" Show on Saturday night. She opened up on a number of issues including Rafale deal, Indo-Pak relations, Indo-China relati
On Rahul Gandhi’s charge that public sector company Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd was overlooked in favour of Anil Ambani’s company for manufacture of Rafale aircraft, the Defence Minister said, that HAL was already overburdened and its production capacity was less.
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The defence minister said that the fighter jet deal was clinched at a lower price compared to what was being negotiated by the previous UPA regime.
The defence minister was asked whether the government will engage with opposition parties the way the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2005 had taken the Opposition into confidence and addressed their apprehensions to pave way for finalising the nuclear deal with the US.
"Such Rafale-like controversies lower a nation's esteem as the world is watching. These are big-ticket purchases. Something may be wrong or something may be right," Raha told reporters on the sidelines of a defence seminar here.
Sitharaman said the UPA deal collapsed as HAL did not have the capability to produce 108 aircraft in India.
'India faces grave threat': IAF chief backs government on Rafale deal; says there are example of similar inter-govt purchases. He further added that inter-govt agreement for buying fighter jets like in the case of Rafale was not a first.
Congress Spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the party will not drag the services into the political arena after Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa asserted that the Rafale jets will power the Indian Air Force (IAF) to fight "grave threats" from Pakistan and China.
He further added that inter-govt agreement for buying fighter jets like in the case of Rafale was not a first.
Bhushan also lashed out at the BJP-led government and said that it compromised on national security, left the Indian Air Force "high and dry", just to accommodate Anil Ambani's company in the deal.
The Rafale fighter is a twin-engine Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation.
FM Arun Jaitley slams Congress President Rahul Gandhi over Rafale deal allegations
"It is a beautiful aircraft..It is a very capable aircraft and we are waiting to fly it," Air Marshal S B Deo said.
A PIL seeking stay on the Rafale fighter jet deal between India with France has been filed by advocate ML Sharma.
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