'Explain links with arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari & meeting with Eurofighter officials,' demands Union Minister Col Rajyavardhan Rathore of Rahul Gandhi

After Republic TV and OpIndia's report on the links between Rahul Gandhi and Sanjay Bhandari who is under ED scanner for his dealings during the UPA regime, Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore has demanded that Congress president explain his links with him, as well as his alleged meeting with Eurofighter officials.

Rathore posted on Twitter saying, "Rahul Gandhi has been repeatedly asking questions on the Rafale Deal but is he ready for the answers? He must explain his links with arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari and his meeting with Eurofighter officials. Is that why he opposes the purchase of Rafale?"

Earlier on Wednesday Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani spoke about the matter in a news briefing on Thursday and also demanded Gandhi come clean about his links with Sanjay Bhandari and CC Thampi.

WATCH: BJP Attacks Rahul Gandhi Over Links To Under-scanner CC Thampi And Sanjay Bhandari, Calls Congress President "the Real Face Of Corruption"

"The new facts which have come to the fore clearly establish a relationship between Rahul Gandhi and arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari. Hence interest in the defence preparation in our country stems not only of individual politics but his personal commercial interests, his personal family interests. Rahul Gandhi is the real face of graft. What is the personal relationship he shares with CC Thampi and how is the land which he owns is funded by the arms dealer,"  she said.

Republic TV and OpIndia published a report on suspicious land deals which were made through one HL Pahwa who was on CC Thampi's payroll. The documents show that land dealings are between Rahul Gandhi and HL Pahwa. Pahwa is alleged to be on the payroll of CC Thampi, who is connected to both Sanjay Bhandari and Robert Vadra. Bhandari is under the scanner of the I-T department and the ED for allegedly receiving kickbacks from petroleum and defence deals under the UPA.

Thampi is a man closely connected to both Bhandari and  Gandhi's brother-in-law Robert Vadra.

WATCH: BJP Attacks Rahul Gandhi Over Links To Under-scanner CC Thampi And Sanjay Bhandari, Calls Congress President "the Real Face Of Corruption"