‘Deal in defence different from defence dealing’: Sitharaman’s Rafale jab


Team Udayavani, Jan 4, 2019, 9:59 AM IST

New Delhi: Hitting back at the Congress on the Rafale fighter jet deal, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday alleged that the party had stopped the deal when it was in power as it “didn’t get the money” and ignored national security.

Replying to a debate on the Rafale issue in Lok Sabha, Sitharaman alleged that the Congress is only shedding crocodile tears on the HAL not getting the offset contract as it did nothing to scale up the capacity of the state-run firm.

The BJP-led NDA government gave Rs one lakh crore worth of contracts to HAL, she said.

Taking on the Congress, the minister said, “You stopped the deal, forgetting Air Force was suffering. You didn’t conclude the deal, because it didn’t suit you. The deal didn’t get you money.” 

“They did not intend to buy the aircraft till something else was done. There is something different between defence deal and deal in defence,” she said, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government gave priority to national security.

“You are misleading the country by saying the NDA government reduced 126 Rafale jets to 36. Congress was supposed to buy 18 in fly-away condition, the NDA raised that to 36,” she said.

The delivery of first Rafale will happen in 2019, while the last aircraft of 36 jets will be delivered in 2022, the minister said.

She said the IAF always advises the government to buy two squadrons, which is 36 aircraft instead of 18, in case of emergency purchases, the Minister said.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Two leopards captured in village near Bengaluru after fatal attack on woman

Ensure safety of minorities: India on arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Das in Bangladesh

Sad to see you go, hope we can reunite: Delhi Capitals’ co-owner to Rishabh Pant

SC grants bail to 2 convicts in two-decade-old murder case of Chhattisgarh NCP leader

Those against Constitution are speaking about changing it, says Karnataka CM

Constitution provided roadmap for progress: Delhi HC Chief Justice Manmohan

Independence will be jeopardised if parties place creed above country, says Dhankhar

Related Articles More

Ensure safety of minorities: India on arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Das in Bangladesh

Rituals being conducted at temples for Shinde’s continuation as Maharashtra CM

BJP in no hurry to announce CM candidate until portfolio allocation finalised: sources

Atishi inaugurates 24×7 underground shooting range in Delhi’s Rohini

Sad to see you go, hope we can reunite: Delhi Capitals’ co-owner to Rishabh Pant

MUST WATCH

Coconut Flower

Prakash Belawadi

Naxal Leader Vikram Gowda

Christmas Cake Fruit Mixing

DK Shivakumar


Latest Additions

Two leopards captured in village near Bengaluru after fatal attack on woman

Ensure safety of minorities: India on arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Das in Bangladesh

Rituals being conducted at temples for Shinde’s continuation as Maharashtra CM

BJP in no hurry to announce CM candidate until portfolio allocation finalised: sources

Atishi inaugurates 24×7 underground shooting range in Delhi’s Rohini

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.