Narendra Modi led-NDA saved Rs. 59cr/aircraft in Rafale Deal: Report
As the political controversy around Rafale Deal is widening, a report claims that NDA government got a better price than the previous UPA rule. An India Today report suggests Narendra Modi led NDA gave Rs. 59 crore less per aircraft in the deal. This comes close to heels of Congress moving a privilege motion against Prime Minister and Defense Minister for 'misleading the country'.
NDA paid Rs. 59,000 crore for deal, document reportedly shows
The defense ministry prepared a document this year that brought to notice the differences between deals struck by NDA and UPA. This document reportedly takes into account, maintenance, simulators, repair support, technical assistance, along with the cost of weapons. For 36 planes, NDA paid Rs. 59,000 crore but UPA paid Rs. 1.69 lakh crore. Thus, NDA saved Rs. 59 crore on each aircraft.
Aircrafts purchased by NDA has missiles, UPA ones didn't
Moreover, the weapons the Modi regime bought had missiles like METEOR and SCALP, which were missing from UPA's deal. If NDA had settled for the same aircrafts that the UPA had negotiated for, the saving would be Rs. 255 crore more, another report in MyNation suggests. The NDA spent Rs. 9,855 crore more on India Specific Enhancements, yet the final deal was cheaper.
After brouhaha over pricing, France had released a statement
Last week in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi asked why the government didn't reveal the price of the Rafale Deal and claimed French President Emmanuel Macron told him the cost isn't classified. After his speech, France released a statement saying the details of the deal can't be revealed as it would sabotage the security of both the nations. However, Gandhi stood by his statement.
The Rafale Deal's controversy makes India look bad
Gandhi, being worried about corruption in the Rafale Deal makes him a good Opposition leader, but the domestic mudslinging paint a bad picture of India in front of France. Instead of being stubborn that prices be revealed publicly, he could have sought a closed-door meeting. The government too needs to take Opposition in confidence and settle this before it blows up.
