Nirmala Sitharaman counters AK Antony, says Rafale deal didn’t happen during UPA

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addresses a press conference at the Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC), in New Delhi on Sept 18, 2018

“Deal didn’t happen during UPA. What also didn’t happen during UPA was that between HAL and Dassault, they couldn’t agree on production terms. So HAL and Rafale couldn’t go together. Doesn’t that very clearly say who didn’t go together with HAL, under which govt did that happen?” she quoted.

Countering Congress accusations, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman defended the Dassault Rafale purchase on the ground that the NDA was able to procure 36 fighter jets urgently required by the Indian Air Force while the previous government failed to do so.

She added that the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Dassault Aviation – the maker of Rafale – could not agree on production terms during the UPA rule.

“Deal didn’t happen during UPA. What also didn’t happen during UPA was that between HAL and Dassault, they couldn’t agree on production terms. So HAL and Rafale couldn’t go together. Doesn’t that very clearly say who didn’t go together with HAL, under which govt did that happen?” she quoted.

Her comment came soon after senior Congress leader and former Defence Minister AK Antony accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “gravely compromising national security and defence preparedness” by reducing to 36 the number of Rafale fighter jets purchased from France.

“In the present context, the threat perception has increased substantially and the IAF needs more than 126 fighters at the earliest. However, instead of catering to the need, the Modi government seriously jeopardised national security and air combat preparedness by unilaterally ordering only 36 Rafale jets,” the former Defence Minister told the media in New Delhi.

He also accused Sitharaman of tarnishing the image of HAL.

“We don’t know what her intentions were in ridiculing a public sector undertaking under her own Ministry,” said Antony.

In response, Sitharaman said, “We bought 36. Make a distinction between those who got it and those who could not.”

Addressing reporters at Indian Women’s Press Conference, Sitharaman also commented on Congress leader and Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu’s visit to Pakistan.

“It certainly has (an) impact on soldiers and the people in the Ministry. Public response has been similar that it demoralises. If it demoralises people, I wished Sidhu would have avoided. I’m not talking about going, but that single gesture of hugging the Chief of Pakistan Army,” she said.

Speaking on the strategically significant S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft missile defence system, Sitharaman said that negotiations with Russia are almost complete.

“The negotiation with Russia on the S-400 have reached almost the final stage, we’ll have to see it if it’s signed before the Russian President’s visit. But the negotiations are almost complete,” the Defence Minister said.