NEW DELHI, Nov 14:
Charging the Narendra Modi Government of flagrant violation of the defence procurement procedure in the Rafale fighters jets deal, the Congress on Tuesday said that the Government was indulging in an “unforgivable game of compromising National Interests and National Security’.
Talking to reporters here, AICC media incharge Randeep Surjewala said,”complete non-transparency, flagrant violation of the mandatory provisions of ‘Defence Procurement Procedure’, sacrificing the National Interests on ‘Transfer of Technology’ to a government PSU ie Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and blatant promotion of financial interests of ‘crony capitalist friends’ of Prime Minister have marred the purchase of 36 ‘Rafel Fighter Aircrafts’ by Modi government from the ‘Dassault Aviation’ of France.
Modi Government is indulging in an unforgivable game of compromising ‘National Interests’ and ‘National Security’. A ‘huge Scam’ is brewing in the procurement of fighter aircraft for Indian Air Force. Grave apprehensions and claims of insurmountable loss being caused to public exchequer are in public domain with the government maintaining a conspiratorial silence.”
Mr Surjewala said that in 2007, the then UPA Government floated a tender for purchase of 126 ‘Medium Multi Role Combat Aircrafts’ (MMRCA) for Indian Air Force. Post negotiations, two aircrafts remained in reckoning i.e. ‘Rafel’ and ‘Eurofighter Typhoon’.
”On December 12, 2012 Rafel emerged as L-1 vendor with base price of 10.2 billion US Dollars (Rs.54,000 crore as per 2012 conversion rate). Out of 126, 18 Aircraft would come in fly away condition with remaining 108 Aircraft being manufactured in India by HAL with transfer of technology. (PTI)
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