New Delhi | The Congress Party on Monday accused that Defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman has misled the entire nation in revealing the pricing of Rafale Aircraft brought through the Indo-France deal.
Addressing a Press conference, Former Defence Minister and Congress leader A.K Anthony clarified that Rafale was selected after considering many companies in December 2012. Prices were settled. “During our time a tender for 126 Rafale aircrafts were issued,” he added.
Taking a dig at Sitharam, Anthony said, “When there is no secret deal that prevents revealing the prices, how can they keep it a secret? I have revealed in Parliament prices of many defence contracts because under the constitution government cannot deny revealing the prices as they are scrutinised at various levels,” said Anthony while referring to the defence deals during the UPA era.
The Congress leader while informing media about the Indo-France deal said, ” According to UPA’s deal, among 126 aircrafts, only 18 were to be manufactured in France. Rest were to be manufactured by PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.” He further alleged that “HAL would’ve benefited with employment and experience with this deal. Many technicians and engineers lost the opportunity of employment.”
Accusing the government of mismanagement in the Rafale deal, Anthony said, “Normally offset market must have experience in manufacturing fighter aircrafts. The company to which this deal was given had experience neither in fighter aircrafts nor regular aircrafts.”
“Government owes the explanation to the Parliament. PM was fully aware of the understanding between India and France for 126 aircrafts,” said Congress leader Anand Sharma.
Sharma further alleged that, “PM arbitrarily without any sanction from Cabinet Committee of Security, changed the Rafale deal, where price was much higher per unit of aircraft”.” PM Modi must confirm or deny in the Parliament that after returning from France the deal was changed without informing CCS,” he added.
“French government’s statement clarifies that price was not a part of the secrecy clause. French government mandates that the price should be revealed, added Sharma while alleging the government that “Same aircraft was sold to Egypt and Qatar with lesser cost. In new deal, price has gone up from ₹526Cr in UPA regime to ₹1670Cr under Modi govt. This is definitely a scam.”
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