New Delhi: Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday called the purported audio clip cited by the Congress on the Rafale deal a 'desperate attempt' to fabricate facts. Parrikar also clarified that no such discussion happened between a Goa Minister and an unidentified person about the Rafale deal. 

"The audio clip released by the Congress party is a desperate attempt to fabricate facts after their lies were exposed by the recent Supreme Court verdict on Rafale. No such discussion ever came up during Cabinet or any other meeting," Parrikar tweeted.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi wanted to play a purported audio conversation in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday between Goa health minister Viswajit Rane and another individual. In the audio clip, Rane is purportedly heard to be claiming that Goa CM Manohar Parrikar allegedly told Rane that the Goa CM has all Rafale files in his bedroom.

Gandhi took to Twitter to ask a series of questions on the controversial deal for Modi – probably an attempt to increase the pressure on the Prime Minister. He was 

Gandhi also claimed there might be many such "tapes".

Also read: Rahul Gandhi's Rafale show in Parliament: 3 things Congress needs to explain

"The Goa minister is saying clearly that Parrikar ji said in a cabinet meeting that he has a complete file on Rafale deal with all details and therefore, he can't be disturbed. There may be other such audio tapes," said the Congress chief, who attacked the Modi government on the deal in Lok Sabha yesterday.

There was a huge uproar in the House when Gandhi took out his phone to play the audio clip.

"The last time he spoke about Rafale, he lied before the entire nation by concocting a conversation between him and the French President. The French government contradicted it," Arun Jaitley said.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan asked Gandhi to authenticate the purported conversation and sternly told him not to play any recording.

Gandhi insisted on playing the recording but was shut down by Mahajan.

"They are so afraid. I will not play the tape and if it pleases you but...," Gandhi said adding he would read from the taped conversation.

"You know it is false," Jaitley told Gandhi. "Because he knows it is false... he lies repeatedly." 

Also read: Rahul Gandhi's question no 3: Twitter in splits after Cong chief tries to pressure Modi ahead of Rafale debate

Earlier on Wednesday, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala released audio of a telephonic conversation allegedly between Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and another person, whose identity was kept anonymous. 

Parrikar was the defence minister when the Rafale deal was signed between India and France for the purchase of fighter aircraft.

Rane has claimed that the audio was doctored and has sought a probe by the police and central government agencies into the matter.

On December 14, 2018, the Supreme Court had dismissed all PILs alleging irregularities in the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France.