NEW DELHI – In India, opposition parties have called for resignation ofPrime Minister Narendra Modi for his alleged corruption in a military jetdeal with France.

Criticizing Modi over the 2016 purchase of thirty six Rafale planes fromDassault Aviation at a cost of about 8.7 billion dollars, the oppositionparties said the deal was not transparent and the prime minister overpaidfor the planes.

The calls for Modi’s resignation came after former French presidentFrancois Hollande was quoted by a French news agency as saying that NewDelhi had influenced the choice of a local partner in the deal.

A senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said Modi has no moral right toremain in office after the revelations from Hollande.

Smaller parties also joined the attack on Modi who is already underpressure to shore up his political base ahead of a series of stateelections this year followed by national elections next year.