New Delhi: Addressing the media after a briefing for Council of ministers on the Rafale deal, Union Minister Arun Jaitley took a dig at Congress and party President Rahul Gandhi, as he said that their party has proved that in dynastic parties, ‘Ignorance is Contagious’.
Talking about the Rafale deal, the Union Minister said, “There is a basic craft with a pilot, which cannot be used in a war. Above that, there is a currency variation from 2007 to 2016. As per the latest deal, the aircraft is nine per cent cheaper.”
The Congress had alleged that the deal that the UPA government had been discussing cost less per aircraft as compared to what was decided on by the UPA government. And also, that rather than creating jobs for Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL), the lucrative contract for maintaining the jets would go to Anil Ambani’s Reliance group of companies, whom Rahul Gandhi has been describing as ‘PM Modi’s friend’, which is burdened by a large debt, details of which are in the public domain.
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“36 manufactured aircraft will be flown from a foreign country and there is no mention of a private sector. This is not going to benefit any private or public sector. Not a single screw is to be fitted in India for these aircrafts,” Jaitley added.
Jaitley also said that since ages the Congress is of the opinion that they will make defence purchase from foreign governments, but not introduce the same technology in India.
Jaitley said that this contagious ignorance should be limited to the Congress. Talking about the policy of the current Government, he said, “Our aim is to ensure that the defence PSU gets sufficient order. Along with this, we want the private sector to flourish.”
Pointing towards the Bofors scam, Jaitley said, “They are willing to take a bribe from Bofors, but not willing to involve Indians into manufacturing.”
The Rafale fighter, manufactured by France-based Dassault Aviation, is the most potent twin-engine fighter aircraft in the world. It is a multi-role fighter aircraft capable of undertaking all types of missions with a capability to simultaneously perform both air defence and ground attack role in a single mission.