PM benefitted private company in Rafale deal: Cong

VARANASI : Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma on Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should tell the people how the per unit cost of Rafale fighter jet increased from Rs 526 crore to Rs 1,670 crore.

“The global tender for buying 126 Rafale fighter jets was finalised by the UPA government as per the defence procurement policy (DPP) after which other procedures were followed as per rules. The committee on price negotiation had finalised the cost at Rs 526 crore,” Sharma told media persons here.

He alleged that the PM breached the Official Secrets Act to extend benefit to a private company which was constituted 12 days before Modi’s visit to France in April 2015.

“The industrialist formed a company 12 days prior to the PM’s visit to France. This means the industrialist was informed about the deal in advance so that he could get the contract to make Rafale jets in India and transfer of technology can be done to the company,” he added.

He said when the NDA government came to power, the cost of the jets increased to Rs 1,670 crore per unit.

“PM Modi will have to tell the people how the cost of jets increased. If everything is transparent in the deal, what is he trying to hide by not revealing the facts,” Sharma asked.

Sharma said as per the deal finalised during the UPA rule, India had to get 18 ready-to-fly fighter jets from Dassault and the remaining 108 units were to be manufactured in India by the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).

“Transfer of manufacturing technology to HAL was also a part of the deal. During his visit to France in 2015, the Prime Minister suddenly announced that India will buy 36 Rafale fighter jets in ready-to-fly condition,” he said.