Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh irked over Pakistan and Congress on Rafale embarassment

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh irked over Pakistan and Congress on Rafale embarassment

ISLAMABAD - Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh irked over Pakistan and Congress on Rafale embarassment.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday lashed out at the Congress over its criticism of performing Shastra pooja on the Rafale fighter jet in France on the occasion of Vijaydashmi on October 8.

Addressing a rally in Haryana's Karnal, the Defence Minister said, "I wrote ‘Om’ on fighter plane (Rafale) and tied a ‘raksha bandhan’ to it. Congress leaders started a controversy here...They should have welcomed that Rafale is coming here. Instead, they started criticising. Statements by Congress leaders only strengthen Pakistan,” Singh said.

On October 8, the Defence Minister performed Shastra pooja at the Rafale aircraft’s induction ceremony in keeping with the Hindu tradition of warriors worshipping their weapons on Dussehra. October 8 is also the foundation day of the India Air Force.