A perception battle, will fight it

New Delhi: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, referring to the Congress broadside on the Rafale jet deal, said that she would lead a nationwide campaign to "fight the perception battle" with a series of press conferences.

"We need to fight the perception battle. Many of us will be speaking across the country. Facts have to come out," Sitharaman said. The minister also targeted Congress president Rahul Gandhi, saying his allegations had an "international dimension" and would be exposed.

Sitharaman accused the Congress of running a “smear campaign” against the Centre at an “international level.”  Minutes after Sitharaman’s assertion, the BJP launched a counter-offensive and hit back at the Congress and its chief Rahul Gandhi’s family with its own set of allegations.

BJP leader and junior minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the campaign against the Rafale deal was part of a conspiracy.  “A conspiracy is being brewed to cancel the deal, a conspiracy is being brewed to lower the morale of the air force... behind it there is only one reason.. to remove Prime Minister Modi,” he said at a press conference. “Congress is seeking the support of global and anti-national forces to remove Modi,” he alleged.