Congress today declared that the party would review Rafael defence deal if voted to power in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, alleging that the Narendra Modi government had extended huge commercial favour to a particular private company and also increased the price of Rafael fighter plane almost three times what Congress led UPA government had finalised before NDA government came to power in 2014.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary and National Spokesman of the party Shakti Singh Gohil told media persons here that Congress led UPA government had finalised the price of Rafael fighter plane at Rs 526.

10 crores and a total of 126 such fighter planes was to be purchased from French Company Dassault.

The negotiation was done in such a way that only 18 fighter planes manufactured in France was to be procured while the rest were to be manufactured in India in joint collaboration with Dassault and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) based in Bangalore, he added.

"When NDA government came to power after 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to France in 2015, the deal was renegotiated and the price of Rafael fighter plane was increased from Rs 526.

Agencies