Rafale deal: Randeep Surjewala says PM Modi compromised national security

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of compromising national security, and also alleged a huge scam in procurement of Rafale fighter jets from France.

Surjewala said that when the UPA government was in power, Rafale had emerged as the lowest bidder for supplying 126 fighter planes to India with a base price of $10.2 billion (Rs54,000 crore). However, as per information available in public domain, the Narendra Modi government junked the earlier tender, and signed a deal for purchasing 36 Rafale fighter aircraft for $8.7 billion (Rs 59,000 crore).

"As per the deal negotiated when Congress was in power, each fighter jet would have cost $80.95 million or Rs526 crore, while BJP government has finalised a price of $241 million or Rs1,570 crore. Who is responsible for this huge financial loss?" he questioned.

The Congress leader alleged that earlier deal also include transfer of technology for manufacturing the aircraft in India by HAL, and offset clause requiring Dassault Aviation to invest 50% of the sale price in India.