Rafale deal
The Indian government proposed Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence as Dassault Aviation's partner in multi-billion dollar Rafale jet deal and France did not have a choice, former French president, Francois Hollande, was quoted as purportedly saying by a French publication, a sensational twist that gave fresh ammunition to the Opposition against the Modi dispensationsays PTI reports.
Reacting to Hollande's reported remark that is at variance with the Indian government's position, a defence ministry spokesman said, "The report referring to former French president Hollande's statement that government of India insisted upon a particular firm as offset partner for the Dassault Aviation in Rafale is being verified."
The spokesperson also said, "It is reiterated that neither the government nor the French government had any say in the commercial decision."
The report in 'Mediapart', a French language publication, quoted Hollande as saying, "It was the Indian government that proposed this service group, and Dassault who negotiated with Ambani. We had no choice, we took the interlocutor who was given to us."
On who selected Reliance as a partner and why, Hollande replied, "We had no say in this regard."
Opposition parties seized on the report to step up its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Congress chief Rahul Gandhi alleging, "The PM personally negotiated and changed the Rafale deal behind closed doors. Thanks to Francois Hollande, we now know he personally delivered a deal worth billions of dollars to a bankrupt Anil Ambani."
He further said, "The prime minister has betrayed India. He has dishonoured the blood of our soldiers."
Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, said Hollande's statement directly contradicts what the Modi government had been saying so far and asked whether the national security was not being endangered by "hiding crucial facts" on the deal.
Modi had announced the procurement of a batch of 36 Rafale jets after holding talks with then French President Hollande on April 10, 2015 in Paris. The final deal was sealed in September 23, 2016.
In the report, Hollande also denied any linkage of the deal with a film by his partner Julie Gayet as reported by a newspaper last month. The report had said Ambani's Reliance Entertainment had signed an agreement with Gayet to produce a film before the Rafale deal was sealed.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary, Sitaram Yachury, said, "This Rafale deal is a scam if there was one. The Modi govt has lied and misled Indians. The whole truth must come out now."
"Why was the Indian government batting for one corporate house with no experience in defence manufacture?" Yechury tweeted.