the goan I network
MARGAO
Even as Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar landed in Goa from the US, the Congress fired a host of questions at him on the Rafale deal, saying the nation seeks to know from the former Defence Minister the discrepancies in the pricing of the aircraft, his presence in Goa when Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed the deal in France and whether his return to State politics had anything to do with the Rafale deal.
Smelling a scam in the entire Rafale deal, senior Congress leader and former Union Minister, Ramakant Khalap said Parrikar should tell the countrymen his role in the procurement of Rafale deal, the money paid and the terms and conditions of the deal.
Flanked by South Goa district Congress president Joe Dias and ex-president Subhash Faldesai, Khalap said Parrikar was the Defence Minister when the deal was signed when he has told the Doordarshan just days before the deal was inked by the Prime Minister that India is buying 126 aircrafts, 18 of them in fly away conditions and the remaining 108 aircrafts to be manufactured in India, for an total deal of Rs 90,000 crore. According to Parrikar, each of the Rafale aircraft was supposed to cost Rs 715 crore, he said.
Khalap said the UPA government had planned to procure 126 Rafale aircrafts, 18 in fly away conditions and the remaining 108 to be built at the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd under the transfer of technology at a total price of Rs 42,000 crore, which included the initial price, transfer of technology and licence for production. “As per the UPA government’s plan, each of the aircraft was supposed to cost Rs 333 crore,” he added.
He pointed that Modi has signed a deal for an outright purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts in fly away conditions at a cost of Rs 60,000 crore, with each aircraft coming at a price of Rs 1,667 crore. “Parrikar should answer countrymen on the discrepancy in the pricing, when each aircraft which was supposed to cost Rs 715 crore as per Parrikar’s statement and the present cost of Rs 1,667. Parrikar should explain since he was the then Defence Minister,” Khalap said.
He further demanded to know from Parrikar whether he did not accompany the Prime Minister to Paris to sign the deal, and he was in Goa that time and whether he was left out from such an important deal. “He must answer to the country what was his status in Delhi as the Defence Minister and whether he had no role to play in the defence of the country. Parrikar should explain whether his return to Goa has anything to do with the Rafale episode when he didn’t seem to be party to anything,” he said.
Khalap clarified that the Congress party has no dispute on the capability of the fighter aircraft, saying that Rafale is of a highest caliber and will enhance the country’s defence capabilities.
“The questions that come to the fore are that of pricing, and why the main clause on the transfer of technology and our very HAL which has the manufacturing capability was given the go by,” he said.
The Congress leader said Parrikar should answer why an established HAL, which was manufacturing the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and helicopters was simply brushed away and the contract was given to the Ambani group by the Dassault Rafale.
Replying to a question, Khalap said he does not want to say Rafale is a scam but the entire episode smell of a scam, smells of underhand dealing, smells of selling the country’s interests.
Saying that the Rafale deal will be a major poll issue for the Congress party, district president Joe Dias said the Congress will take out a rally to the South district Collector on Friday evening.
CONG ENTERS THE DEAL ZONE
Khalap says Parrikar should tell the countrymen his role in the procurement of Rafale deal, the money paid and the terms and conditions of the deal
Khalap says Parrikar was the Defence Minister when the deal was signed and he has told the Doordarshan just days before the deal was inked by the PM that India is buying 126 aircrafts, 18 of them in fly away conditions and the remaining 108 aircrafts to be manufactured in India, for an total deal of Rs 90,000 crore
Khalap says according to Parrikar, each of the Rafale aircraft was supposed to cost Rs 715 crore
Khalap points that Modi has signed a deal for an outright purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts in fly away conditions at a cost of Rs 60,000 crore, with each aircraft coming at a price of Rs 1,667 crore
