Former IAF chief Arup Raha
Former Chief of Air Staff Arup Raha on Friday said the political slugfest over the multi-billion dollar Rafale fighter jet deal lowers the nation's prestige as the world is watching.
The political blame-game between the ruling NDA and the Opposition Congress has been continuing since long, even though Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on many occasions has clarified the government's stand.
There could always be "something wrong or something right" in such big-ticket purchases, he said.
"Such Rafale-like controversies lower a nation's esteem as the world is watching. These are big-ticket purchases. Something may be wrong or something may be right," Raha told reporters on the sidelines of a defence seminar here.
The former CAS said such controversies were not good for the defence capability of a nation as the faith in the system would be lost.
"Everything is well-documented. There is nothing to hide. The stakeholders (government and the Opposition) may always organise a confidential meeting and discuss it," he said.
The Congress has been alleging that the NDA government had helped Anil Ambani's firm benefit from the deal.
(With PTI inputs)
