Based on a reply given to members of Rajya Sabha by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday that the cost of Rafale jets cannot be revealed as it is classified information, the Congress has mounted pressure on the Centre and said the deal is a “huge scam”. The Opposition party said the Narendra Modi government is compromising with national security and national interest to please “capitalists” close to the BJP.

‘No clarity’

Sitharaman had told Congress MP Rajeev Gowda in a written reply that the agreement between the governments of India and France ensures protection of classified information. Citing this reply, Congress alleged that there was complete non-transparency in the disclosure of purchase price of the aircraft. It said the Centre also violated the mandatory provisions of ‘Defence Procurement Procedure’ and did not seek clearance from ‘Cabinet Committee on Security’ before inking the Rafale deal.

“Modi government is indulging in an unforgivable game of compromising national interests and national security, said Opposition leader in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad. “A huge scam is brewing in the procurement of fighter aircraft for Indian Air Force. Grave apprehensions and claims of insurmountable loss being caused to public exchequer are in public domain with the government refusing to state the truth,” he said. He said the BJP used to demand resignation of UPA Ministers even at the slightest provocation .

Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted that the Defence Minister said the price negotiated for each Rafale jet by the Prime Minister and his “reliable buddy is a state secret”. Azad said Modi blatantly promoted financial interests of his ‘crony capitalist friends’, and thus marred the purchase of 36 fighter jets from the ‘Dassault Aviation’ of France.

“What is the price per aircraft of the 36 Rafale jets being purchased by Modi government? Why are Prime Minister and Defence Minister hiding the ‘purchase price’?,” Azad asked. He said the per aircraft pricing of Rafale as per UPA negotiation comes to $80.95 million (₹526.1 crore) against Modi government’s per aircraft negotiated price of $241.66 million (₹1570.8 crore). “Who is responsible for loss to exchequer?” he asked.

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