Nirmala Sitharaman said that 36th Rafale will be delivered by 2022.New Delhi: India will get its first Rafale fighter aircraft from France in September, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told parliament today, adding that timely purchase of ammunition is a priority for country.

"National security is important, no matter who is in power.

We cannot run away from facts," she said.The defence minister was answering questions in parliament on controversial Rafale fighter jet deal between India and Rafale manufacturer Dassault.The minister said in new deal, delivery of 36 aircraft has been advanced by five months.

"The inter-government agreement was signed in September 2016, and first aircraft will be delivered in September 2019 and last in 2022," said Ms Sitharaman during a debate in Lok Sabha on Rs 58,000 crore Rafale deal for 36 aircraft.After accusing Congress-led government of creating a "deadlock" in deal because "it didn't get money". "By 2014, you couldn't even get these 18 aircraft.

Why There wasn't a deal Today you get up to say what sense of urgency"She alleged that previous government ignored national security and added, "There is a difference between defence dealings and dealing in defence.

We don't do defence dealings.

We deal in defence with national security as a priority."She continued her attack saying that Congress is only shedding crocodile tears on state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) not getting offset contract.

"The UPA government did nothing to scale up capacity of state-run firm.

Whereas BJP-led NDA government gave Rs one lakh crore worth of contracts to HAL," she said.