Govt ignored defense procurement procedure in Rafale deal: Chidambaram
Stepping up attack on the government over the Rafale fighter jet issue, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram today accused the Center of ignoring the defense procurement procedure and "bypassing" several committees to secure the deal. The former Finance Minister of India also alleged the Cabinet Committee on Security was not taken into confidence by the government before signing the deal. Here's more.
NDA's Rafale deal three times costlier than UPA's, says Chidambaram
Chidambaram claimed there was a huge difference in the price secured by the UPA and what has now been agreed to by the NDA government. "The UPA contract priced the Rafale jets at Rs. 526cr per aircraft and the NDA contract priced them at Rs. 1,670cr per aircraft. If these numbers are correct, will someone explain why the prices jumped three times?" he asked.
Chidambaram was at the Congress office in Kolkata
"Why was the defense procurement procedure ignored in the Rafale deal... and why were the Contract Negotiation Committee and the Price Negotiation Committee kept in the dark about it? The Cabinet Committee on Security was also not taken into confidence," Chidambaram said.
