Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday accused the Congress of manufacturing “fake” controversy over Rafale deal as it has an “inadequate leader” with no real issue to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the run up to 2019 general elections.

In a Facebook post titled “The Congress Party and the Fake Issue of Rafale”, Jaitley said that the Congress knows there is a danger of the next election becoming a referendum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s performance and that's why that party is manufacturing "fake" controversy to attack PM Modi.

Jaitley pointed out that Rafale deal is a “Government to Government agreement with no private group involved”.

Referring to the government’s refusal to disclose the entire amount involved in the deal. Jaitley said that the UPA Ministers also never disclosed the cost breakup of the weaponry because that is not in larger national interest.

Referring to the Congress allegations of the Government deliberately edging out HAL as offset partner of Dassault, Jaitley said that the government had nothing to do with it.