IAF CHIEF DEFENDS RAFALE DEAL; RUBBISHES OPPN CHARGES

ADAMPUR (JALANDHAR) : Air Chief Marsh al Bi render Singh Dhano a refuted the claims of the Congress government regarding the Rafale fighter jet deal on Thursday. Terming the deal as best, Dhanoa said, “There was no overpricing in purchasing of Rafale fighter jets.”

“It is lower than what was there in the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) contract. We have followed a government-to-government contract and are getting the 36 fighter jets at a good price,” Dhanoa said on the sidelines of a function at Adampur here.

Answering a query over the difference of more than the triple amount in revised deal, he said he does not have the exact amount.

Dhanoa refused to comment on Congress allegation that BJP government is favouring Reliance with this deal.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had alleged that the BJP government had purchased the aircraft at three times the amount, (₹526 crore to ₹1570 crore, for an aircraft) and the technology will not be transferred to India.

When asked why the technology was not being transferred to state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which was included by the earlier UPA government, Dhanoa said, “The technology will first come to Defence Research and Development Organisation.” He also ruled out any aircraft shortage.