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— Congress Live (@INCIndiaLive) March 9, 2018
Our Correspondent / AMN / New Delhi
Intensifying its attack on the NDA Government on the deal for Rafale fighter jets, the Congress party today said the Modi Govt was guilty of compromising ‘National interest’ and ‘National security’.
Addressing a joint press conference with AICC media incharge Randeep Surjewala and senior Congress leader Jitender Singh, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said, ‘the UPA had taken a big step in the direction of bolstering national security by signing the deal for purchase of 126 Rafale fighter jets at the price of Rs 526 cr per jet. In July, 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unilaterally scrapped the UPA deal in a non transparent manner. No proper procedure as followed in scrapping the deal.
As per procedure, tenders are invited for purchase of equipment as per the requirement of the forces. The tenders were floated for purchase of 126 jets. This means that the Cabinet Committee for Security had concluded that if we have to defend our borders, the requirement is for 126 fighter jets. Why was that deal cancelled and in its place, a deal for 36 fighter jets was signed i.e 90 jets less than our requirement. This clearly means that the govenrnment has compromised with national security of the country.’
Charging the government of compromising national interest in signing of the deal, AICC media incharge Randeep Surjewala said the annual report of Dassault Aviation, the manufacturers of Rafale aircrafts, showed that the price of Rafale fighter jets sold to Qatar and Egypt in the year 2015 was Rs 1,319.80 crore per fighter jet while the price at which 36 aircraft were sold to India in Septemeber 2016 was Rs 1,670.70 crore per aircraft.
‘The Dassault Aviation i.e. manufacturer of Rafale aircraft has placed Annual Report 2016 in public domain. In the year 2015, Rafale sold 24 aircraft each to two countries – Egypt and Qatar. Indian purchase of Rafale aircraft was signed on 23rd September, 2016. As per the report, price of 48 aircraft (24 to Egypt and 24 to Qatar) is shown as Euro 7.9 billion. Price of 36 aircraft sold to India is shown as Euro 7.5 billion. Price per aircraft sold to Egypt/Qatar comes to Rs 1,319.80 crore as compared to Rs 1,670.70 crore per aircraft for India. We are clearly paying an extra price of Rs 350.90 crore per aircraft or Rs 12,632 crore for 36 aircrafts,’ Mr Surjewala said.
He said that paying an extra price of Rs 350.90 crore per aircraft defeats purpose, spirit and Object of ‘Inter-Governmental Agreement with France.
‘The Modi Government signed the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) with France on September 23, 2016. The very object and purpose of IGA was to ensure that India gets the lowest price of Rafale aircraft in comparison to every other buyer. Once it is clear from Annual Report, 2016 of Dassault Aviation that Qatar/Egypt got lower price, it puts the very sanctity of IGA into question,’ Mr Surjewala said.
Posing several questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he asked as to why the PM and Defence Minister were hiding the purchase price.
‘Is it correct that per aircraft pricing of Rafale as per bid dated 12.12.2012 during UPA-Congress government comes to Rs 526.1 crore as against Modi governments per aircraft purchase price of Rs 1,670.70 crore? ,’he asked.
Referring to the Dassault Aviations Annual Report which discloses the price of 48 aircraft sold to Egypt and Qatar in the year 2015 as Euro 7.9 billion i.e. Rs 1,319.80 crore per aircraft and of 36 Rafale aircrafts sold to India in the year 2016 as Euro 7.5 billion i.e. 1,670.70 crore per aircraft, he asked why did India pay Rs 350.90 crore per aircraft more i.e. a total of Rs 12,632 crore for 36 aircraft.
‘What is the purpose, object and sanctity of IGA with France, once the assurance of India getting the lowest price of Rafale aircraft in comparison to every other buyer is violated,’ he asked.
He also questioned why the PM violated the Mandatory Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) on 10th April, 2015 while announcing off the shelf purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft.
‘ Why were the requirements of DPP i.e. Price Discovery through Contract Negotiation Committee’ (CNC) and ‘Price Negotiation Committee’ (PNC) not followed?
Why did the PM not take the mandatory prior approval of ‘Cabinet Committee on Security before announcing purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts on 10th April, 2015,’ he asked.
He also questioned why was the PSU, HAL by-passed for getting Rs 30,000 crore worth offset contract despite the work share agreement with Dassault Aviation dated 13.03.2014.
Pointing out that Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon were both found equals on all technical requirements by Indian Air Force and that on July 4, 2014; Eurofighter Typhoon wrote to the then Defence Minister, Arun Jaitley offering to reduce prices by 20 per cent, Mr Surjewala asked ,’Once PM Modi had decided to purchase the aircrafts afresh, should both companies i.e. Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon not have been asked to bid afresh through IGA route so as to arrive at the lowest price in favour of public exchequer? Why did the PM violate this?’