MPCC alleges gross anomalies in Rafale deal
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 02 2018:
Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has alleged that the NDA Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi committed gross irregularities while purchasing 36 Rafale aircrafts from France.
Speaking to media persons at Congress Bhavan here this afternoon, MPCC spokesman Kh Devabratta said that due process for purchasing Rafale aircrafts was initiated during the UPA Government.
International bids for purchasing 35 Rafale aircrafts were opened on December 12, 2012 when there was UPA Government at the Centre.
At that time, the price of one Rafale aircraft was Rs 526.10 crore and the total cost for 36 Rafale aircrafts was Rs 18,940 crore.
But the NDA Government purchased the 35 aircrafts at Rs 60,145 crore after a gap of just three years and a half.
This amount was Rs 41205 crore higher than the original price negotiated by the UPA Government.
After investigation, it was revealed that Reliance Aviation was selected as a third party as it was required for importing certain technologies of Dassault Aviation to India under the Make in India policy.
With the selection of Reliance Aviation as a third party, an extra Rs 30,000 crore was paid to Reliance Aviation.
Thus the total cost of purchasing 35 Rafale aircrafts reached Rs 60,145 crore.
The whole deal evokes a serious question as to why the Government of India's public sector undertaking Hindustan Aeronautics Limited was not selected as the third party if a third party was required, Devabratta said.
He went on to allege that Prime Minister Narendra Modi skipped the standard procedure in the process of purchasing the 35 Rafale aircrafts.
While discussing a no confidence motion in the Parliament on July 20, Congress president Rahul Gandhi raised a number of questions on the Rafale deal but Narendra Modi could not give any reply, claimed the MPCC spokesman.