India and France have resolved most of the “hitches” in the multi-billion euro Rafale deal and the remaining issues will be cleared in the next DAC meet, scheduled to be held on Thursday, minister of
India and France have resolved most of the “hitches” in the multi-billion euro Rafale deal and the remaining issues will be cleared in the next DAC meet, scheduled to be held on Thursday, minister of state for defence Rao Inderjit Singh said on Tuesday. He also defended the cost of the aircraft.
“I can only tell you this that most of the hitches that were there, have been addressed. A few (remaining) issues will be addressed, when possibly the matter comes up before the DAC. They shall be addressed in the next DAC. And thereafter I think the road shall be clear,” Mr Singh said on Tuesday.
Asked by a TV reporter as to how the government can justify the price of Rafales at a time when people in some parts of the country are “eating rotis made of grass”, Mr Singh said development can happen only when the borders and the sky over the country is safe. “Development can happen in a country only when the borders are safe and when the sky over the country is safe. And if that security is not there, rotis made of grass also cannot be eaten,” Mr Singh was quoted by news agencies, as saying.
Mr Singh brushed aside a suggestion that at least six indigenously-made light combat aircraft Tejas can be bought for the price of one Rafale plane, saying the two aircraft were totally different in nature and that IAF needed both.
“Hence, Rafale is needed, this is a different kind of aircraft. LCA is a different kind of aircraft. Both are needed,” Mr Singh said, adding that efforts are being taken to ensure that money allocated for defence is spent judiciously to ensure that the IAF is made stronger.
The meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the apex body of the defence ministry for procurement, is likely to take place on April 21, a day after defence minister Manohar Parrikar arrives here from his visit to China.
Hoping that the Rafale deal would be inked soon, Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said, “It is at a very advanced stage.” Asked on the sidelines of an IAF seminar on when the proposed deal is likely to be signed, Air Chief Marshal Raha was quoted as saying, “We have seen so many years go past. How can I give an assurance But it is in a very advanced stage.”
