Rafale Deal: 'The Unprecedented Scam' of the Modern India

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Rafale Fighter Jet Controversy has become a full-fledged political storm. After the happenings in the Parliament today, it is very clear that the Rafale Deal, which Indian National Congress says is a Monumental Financial Scam of Corruption, by the Modi Government. This is now believed to be 'The Unprecedented Scam' of the Modern India, which is now going to be the head issue for the Congress Party and the allies.

In April 2015, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France, he suddenly pushed for the deal of buying 36 Rafale Aircraft in Government to Government deal. On the other hand, Manohar Parikar announced that the earlier 126-fighter deal negotiation was dead. The new deal worth 59000 crores for the outrate purchase of Rafale Fighter Jets. The biggest question that sparked during this Rafale Deal Controversy, "Was the Cabinet Committee on Security consulted?".

The opposition parties have alleged that the Modi led NDA Government is buying the aircraft under the new deal at much higher price than that was negotiated by the previous Manmohan led UPA government. The opposition has also alleged that the contours of the deal favor a particular private Indian Defence Company and does not include the transfer of technology. In the older proposal, 108 of the 126 Rafale Jet Fighters were to be assembled by the Banglore based Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

The major question raised by the opposition as "What was the decision based on relying the contract to a private businessman instead of HAL?" This part of lack of evidence deliberately shows that there is something or other which is off about the Rafale Deal, but still, no proofs had been made public by the Modi Government. This morning saw Sonia Gandhi, not Rahul Gandhi, riding the Rafale outside the Parliament of India. She is rarely being seen on the issues, but the exploding controversy over Modi's Rafale Deal saw Sonia Gandhi step out and lead the charge. The Government silence on the Rafale Deal has projected this controversy of Rafale Deal as the 'The Unprecedented Scam' of the Modern India. 

August 10, 2018