"The report referring to former French president Mr Hollande statement that the government of India insisted upon a particular firm as offset partner for the Dassault Aviation in Rafale is being verified. It is reiterated that neither GoI nor the French Government had any say in the commercial decision," the Defence Ministry said in a tweet.
FM Arun Jaitley attack Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of lying on Rafale deal and NPA issue
“The RM (Rafale Minister) tasked with defending corruption has been caught lying again. The former HAL Chief, T S Raju, has nailed her lie, that HAL didn’t have the capability to build the RAFALE. Her position is untenable & she must resign,” tweeted Gandhi.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said that Antony was the Minister when the offset rule was framed and who left the HAL in the lurch as far as joint operations were concerned.
Before the Lok Sabha elections 2019, the Congress party is trying to corner the government over the Rafale issue.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, however, rejected the demand saying all the details on it have already been placed before Parliament.
The Congress has asked why the government was not setting up a joint parliamentary committee to probe the fighter jet deal.
Earlier in the day, former defence minister A K Antony questioned the Modi government, saying if the fighter aircraft purchased by them was cheaper, whey didn't the government buy more than 126.
AK Antony accuses Nirmala Sitharaman of 'supressing facts'
Petitioner advocate M L Sharma told the bench that he wants to file some additional documents in the case and therefore the matter should be adjourned.
On Rahul Gandhi’s charge that public sector company Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd was overlooked in favour of Anil Ambani’s company for manufacture of Rafale aircraft, the Defence Minister said, that HAL was already overburdened and its production capacity was less.
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Sitharaman said the UPA deal collapsed as HAL did not have the capability to produce 108 aircraft in India.
'India faces grave threat': IAF chief backs government on Rafale deal; says there are example of similar inter-govt purchases. He further added that inter-govt agreement for buying fighter jets like in the case of Rafale was not a first.
Congress Spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the party will not drag the services into the political arena after Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa asserted that the Rafale jets will power the Indian Air Force (IAF) to fight "grave threats" from Pakistan and China.
He further added that inter-govt agreement for buying fighter jets like in the case of Rafale was not a first.
Bhushan also lashed out at the BJP-led government and said that it compromised on national security, left the Indian Air Force "high and dry", just to accommodate Anil Ambani's company in the deal.
The Rafale fighter is a twin-engine Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation.
FM Arun Jaitley slams Congress President Rahul Gandhi over Rafale deal allegations
A PIL seeking stay on the Rafale fighter jet deal between India with France has been filed by advocate ML Sharma.
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