Rafale deal: Dassault laughing all the way to the bank because of Modi, says Congress

The Narendra Modi government has wronged the country on the Rafale deal, said senior Congress leader Chidambaram on Friday.

Reiterating party’s old demand for a JPC probe into the 36-fighter jet deal, the former union minister said the Modi government had compromised India’s “national security” by reducing the order of fighter planes from 126 to 36.

Addressing a press conference, Chidambaram said “windfall” to French firm Dassault Aviation was a “deliberate decision” and remains highly questionable.

“It seems to me that Dassault is laughing all the way to the bank. The government has wronged the country in two ways: firstly, it has compromised the national security by denying to the Air Force 90 fighter aircraft that they desperately need; secondly, it has purchased two squadrons that will cost about €25 million more per aircraft. At the 2016 exchange rate, €25 million is equal to ₹186 crore! India will pay Rs 186 crore more per aircraft,” he added.

The sole decision taken by PM Modi to buy 36 aircrafts instead of 126 - overriding all set procedures - has cost the taxpayer 41 per cent more per aircraft, alleged the Congress leader.

The Hindu on Friday reported that the PM ’s decision to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France, instead of the 126, pushed the price of each fully by 41.42 per cent.

Earlier in the day, Chidambaram questioned the Modi government saying: “In the light of new facts and revelations in The Hindu, the question gains greater urgency: why did the government buy only 36 Rafale aircraft instead of 126 aircraft required by the Air Force?”