Govt Hiding Rafale Truth

@TheDailyPioneer facebook.com/dailypioneer RNI No.2016/1957, REGD NO. SSP/LW/NP-34/2016-18 Follow us on: Established 1864 OPINION 8 AVENUES 10 WORLD 13 Published From MONSANTO PIGEONS DEMAND FOR NICHE MOON AND KIM DELHI LUCKNOW BHOPAL HOLD TALKS BHUBANESWAR RANCHI RAIPUR COME HOME TO ROOST MBA PROGRAMMES CHANDIGARH DEHRADUN Late City Vol. 154 Issue 253 LUCKNOW, WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2018; PAGES 16 `3 *Air Surcharge Extra if Applicable INDIA TO FACE PAKISTAN IN} ASIA CUP } 15 SPORT www.dailypioneer.com Govt hiding Rafale truth: Antony ‘Cong Govt ignored after the NDA came to power, Ex-Defence Minister seeks JPC probe Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a unilateral decision on April 10, 2015 to pur- HAL, IAF interests’ into ‘grave compromise’ on national chase 36 aircraft. “When the IAF demanded 126 aircraft, Sitharaman claims security, rues HAL image assassination who authorised the PM to reduce the number to 36?” he Rafale deal 9% PNS n NEW DELHI out with the truth,” the asked. Congress leader said. The requirement for 126 cheaper, UPA Govt ormer Defence Minister AK Rejecting the charges lev- aircraft was made by the IAF in FAntony on Tuesday accused elled by Defence Minister 2000. In 2018, the threat per- framed rules for incumbent Nirmala Nirmala Sitharaman that an ception from our border Sitharaman of “suppressing unprecedented intervention by nations has increased than pvt players’ role facts” regarding the Rafale deal him in 2013 had put the “final what it was in 2000, Antony and asked why the nail in the coffin” of the aircraft claimed. The Congress leader Government is not setting up deal when the cost negotiation claimed that if the UPA PNS n NEW DELHI a joint parliamentary commit- committee was giving final Former Defence Minister AK Antony addresses a Press conference on the deal was not cancelled, the tee (JPC) to probe it. Antony touches to the deal, Antony Rafale deal in New Delhi. Senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala is also HAL would have acquired efence Minister Nirmala also held the Government said, “Her allegations are com- seen Alwin Singh | Pioneer state-of-the-art technology DSitharaman has blamed “guilty” of “gravely compro- pletely false and she is deliber- through transfer-of-technolo- the previous UPA Government mising” national security in the ately suppressing the facts.” than it was in the UPA deal, didn’t buy more than 126 if it gy and would have gained for ignoring the interests of Rafale deal. The former Minister went Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was cheaper?” Antony asked. experience to manufacture the Hindustan Aeronautics The Congress leader on to allege that contract nego- said it is 20 per cent cheaper He claimed that before the fighter aircraft. India lost this Limited (HAL) and Indian Air Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addresses a Press conference on the demanded that the Modi tiations were almost over and and an IAF officer said it is 40 UPA demitted office, the nego- opportunity, he said. Force (IAF) and claimed that issue of the Rafale deal in New Delhi Alwin Singh | Pioneer Government should publish when the proposal was sent to per cent cheaper, then why they tiations were almost over, and Continued on Page 7 the NDA Government is the price of the UPA the Finance Ministry, it felt that getting 36 Rafale fighter jets nies. Sitharaman also accused Government’s deal for 126 air- the life cycle cost concept was at a rate nine per cent the UPA Government of not craft and the current price of a new concept and they cannot cheaper than what was agreed finalising the Rafale deal for the NDA Government’s 36 support it. upon by the then UPA years. “Why didn’t the agree- Rafale deal, including per air- Antony also claimed that Government. ment happen,” she asked. craft price, to clear the doubts the then Congress-led UPA Pigeonholed HAL scientists riled Speaking at the Indian The Defence Minister said, and let the nation decide who Government had received Women’s Press Corps, “The UPA Government could is correct. objections and reservations in KESTUR VASUKI n BENGALURU the capabilities to produce any Sitharaman reacted to former have strengthened the HAL. “Since, there is a growing written from several leaders, fighter with technology trans- Defence Minister AK Antony’s Every question should actual- perception that the Modi including a senior BJP MP, he atmosphere at fer. They also feel the HAL has allegations, saying, “The deal ly go to them. They didn’t take Government’s Rafale purchase about the life cycle cost calcu- TBengaluru-based defence become a pawn in the political didn’t happen during the UPA. care of the HAL.” deal has more skeletons in its lation and the Indian Air Force public sector undertaking slugfest. What also didn’t happen dur- She said Antony is a very closet, let there be a joint par- (IAF) was insisting to finalise Hindustan Aeronautics Another retired executive ing the UPA was that the HAL senior leader, and having been liamentary probe to bring out the deal. “Then I directed that Limited (HAL) is sombre. The pointed out that this has killed and the Dassault couldn’t agree in the Ministry before her, he the truth,” Antony said at a the negotiations should con- statement of Defence Minister Prime Minister Narendra on production terms. So the understands the negotiations. Press conference. tinue, but take it to the Cabinet Nirmala Sitharaman question- Modi’s dream of “Make in HAL and Rafale couldn’t go Sitharaman added the Rafale He also accused the PM of Committee on Security only ing the capability of the ace India”. He also pointed out together. Doesn’t that very negotiations were not “over violating the Defence procure- after disputes are settled,” PSU in the context of Rafale that the Government started, clearly say who didn’t go with the counter” purchases. ment procedure (DPP), as Antony said. deal controversy has dampened what is called buyback of the HAL? Under which This assertion came after according to it only the Defence The former Defence the spirit of the staff, scientists shares, and took about `5,000- Government did that happen? Antony questioned why the Acquisition Council, chaired by Minister accused Sitharaman of and officials of the PSU. 6,000 crore each year for last So saying that the NDA Centre did not buy 126 aircraft. the Defence Minister and com- trying to tarnish the image of In her defence of the HAL...The noise that is being could have increased that three years from the HAL. He Government did not take care Sitharaman said 126 jets will prising the three service chiefs, public-sector Hindustan Rafael’s `37,000-crore offset made now, the HAL is being capacity, which is what we said with this the order book of HAL is absolutely misplaced. also have to be bought on order can decide the number of air- Aeronautics Limited (HAL) contract not going to the PSU, ignored… If they were more have done. We are quite active- position of the HAL came Neither the HAL nor Air and, therefore, will have a time- craft and weapons to be pur- both nationally and globally. He the Minister had said the HAL interested in the HAL, why did- ly engaged with the HAL. For down drastically. Force’s interests were taken line and follow all related con- chased. “Prime Minister Modi’s also asked if the price of the didn’t have the capability to n’t they sit with the French the love of the HAL... UPA, Shri Regarding design and care of by the UPA.” ditions like escalation costs. decision is a clear violation of Rafale fighter jets were cheap- produce 4.5 generation French- (company) and talk it out to see Rahul Gandhi doesn’t just help development of new aircraft/ Refuting the Congress’ Responding to questions the DPP,” he said. er than that negotiated by the made Rafale fighter jets. what is deficient about the talking.” helicopter/aircraft engines, an charge that the Government on the Congress’s allegations “In the JPC, the present UPA Government, and why the Speaking to a news chan- HAL’s offer and what can be The officials and staff at the official said as of now Indian preferred Reliance Defence to against the Government Government has got the major- Government bought 36 aircraft nel, Sitharaman had said, done to improve it and how the HAL, the country’s only private sector companies do collaborate with Dassault over- over the Rafale deal, the ity. Why are they afraid? Let the instead of 126 from the French “There are questions which… HAL indeed gets it. defence aerospace company not have expertise, patience, looking the HAL, Sitharaman Minister said, “We have JPC go through all the files. The company. why didn’t you prefer the If they really had a love for established over seven decades and perseverance to pursue a said the rules framed by the responded saying your basic JPC can call files. A JPC con- “While Law Minister Ravi HAL... I will answer that too... the HAL, at least LCA pro- ago, feel insulted by Minister’s design which may take any- previous Congress-led coalition price and the basic price that I sisting of a majority of persons Shankar Prasad had claimed In fact, if anything, I would ductions should have been remarks and point out that the where between 6 years and 20 Government had allowed the am getting at, when compared from the Government can look that in the new agreement, the question the Congress increased.

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