The Finance Minister said as per the second statement of Hollande, Dassault and Reliance selected themselves as partners. “This contradicts his first questionable statement which the French Government and Dassault have denied. The facts contradict the same. His second statement in Montreal, Canada to AFP (news agency) makes the veracity of his first statement even more questionable.”

“the former French President’s first statement rhymes with Rahul Gandhi’s prediction”. “A controversy is sought to be created on the basis of a statement made by the former French President Hollande, that the Reliance Defence ‘partnership’ with Dassault Aviation was entered (into) at the suggestion of the Indian Government. In a subsequent statement the former President has sought to suggest that Reliance Defence emerged on the scene after the agreement with the Indian Government was entered into. He has, in a subsequent statement, said that he is ‘not aware’ if Government ever lobbied for Reliance Defence and that ‘the partners chose themselves’. Truth cannot have two versions.”

Jaitley also asserted that the fighter jet deal would not be scrapped. “Koi prashna nahin uthta. Ye fauj ki avashaktya hai. Ye desh main aana chahiye, aur ye aayega (There is no question of scrapping the deal. These fighters are needed by the defence forces. They should come and they will come),”