Govt sources say ex-HAL chief’s claims on Rafale deal “factually incorrect”

Modi Government sources on Thursday dismissed as "factually incorrect" media reports of former Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) chief TS Raju claiming that the defence undertaking had signed a work-share contract with French company Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of Rafale fighter jets.

"In the news item published (Thursday) ex Chairman and Managing Director, (CMD) HAL has been quoted as stating that an agreed work-share with Dassault Aviation (DA) was submitted to government. The same news item also referred to the cost of the aircraft, life cycle cost issues, etc. The statement attributed to ex CMD, HAL is factually incorrect," said the sources.

The sources said that Raju was a member of the Contract Negotiations Committee of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and "there were many major areas of disagreement between HAL and DA".

They said that the HAL, in a letter on October 10, 2012 to the MOD, "brought out these disagreements pertaining to the work-share between them". "Subsequently in July 2014, HAL in its letter to MOD has also highlighted one major unresolved issue regarding responsibility sharing between DA and HAL for licence manufacture of the aircraft. "Further, the man hours required for manufacture of various components of the aircraft in HAL was also a point of disagreement between DA and HAL. There is, therefore, a contradiction in the claims attributed to Raju," they said.

The sources also said that the since the work-share between DA and HAL was "never agreed upon", the statement claiming lower life cycle cost is "completely presumptive".

They said that because of these reasons, the proposal for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) could not be progressed further.

In an interview to a national daily, Raju who retired from the HAL on Sep 1, asserted that HAL "could have built Rafale fighters in India had the government managed to close the original negotiations with Dassault".

After Raju's statements, the Congress led by its president Rahul Gandhi demanded Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's resignation, accusing her of "lying". The party claimed that Raju's remarks "nailed Sitharaman's lie" that HAL didn't have the capability to build the Rafale.

Also Read

Former HAL chief contradicts Sitharaman, says could have built Rafale jets; report

Nirmala Sitharaman at war with HAL, which comes under her own ministry

Congress leaders meet CAG to demand a probe into the Rafale deal

“Deliberately spreading lies”; reactions to Nirmala Sitharaman’s comments on Rafale, fuel price, JNU

Supreme Court advances hearing on plea for Rafale probe to Oct 10

Rafale deal: Modi Govt compromising national security, says AK Antony

PM Modi is culpable in the Rafale scam: Shourie, Sinha and Bhushan

Cong rejects Jaitley’s contention on Rafale, says FM unaware of def procurement policy provisions

Rafale deal: Congress launches nationwide campaign against Modi government

Rafale deal: Govt ignored defence procurement procedure, says Chidambaram

Ravi Shankar Prasad lying to save Modi on Rafale deal, says Congress

Rafale Deal: Sonia Gandhi leads protest at Parliament, demands JPC probe

Cong seeks Modi’s reply on Rafale after former BJP ministers raise questions