By C. Andrew
Indian PM Modi
during “Indai today Conclave” said that “if India had Rafale Jets; recent
outcomes of India- Pakistan would have been different”. He, in order to keep
the situation charged up in the backdrop of Indian aggression and robust
response from Pakistan, criticized the opposition leaders specially Rahul
Gandhi for creating controversy on Rafale aircraft deal and said “at present,
we continue to suffer due to the politicization of Rafale deal. The vested
interests and politicization has caused great harm to the nation’s interest. In
response to Modi’s taunt on Rafale aircraft, Congress President Rahul Gandhi
has alleged Modi of being ”solely responsible” for the delay in the arrival of
Rafale jets. Rahul Gandhi has tweeted that “Dear PM, have you no shame at all ?
YOU stole 30,000 crore and gave it to your friend Anil. YOU are solely
responsible for the delay in the arrival of the RAFFALE Jets”
It is to refresh
that Rafale deal, widely discussed in international as well as Indian media, is
an agreement between India and France signed at the government level for
procurement of 36 Medium Multi Role combat aircrafts(MRCA) jet fighters built
by French defence manufacturer Dassault. The deal has its genesis in a proposal
put forth during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 2000 for procurement of
advance jet fighters as part of modernization of Indian Air Force. The
procurement process was initiated by the Manmohan Singh government in 2007. The
next United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government zeroed it in 2012 and a new
deal was inked with Dassult for 126 MRCAs. That deal was scrapped by the
Narendra Modi government after it came to power in 2015, he made an
announcement that the deal had been reworked and a fresh agreement was on.
Finally, the deal was signed an inter-government agreement with France, dubbed
as “Rafale Deal” , in which India would reportedly pay about 58,000 Crore or
7.8 billion Euros for 36 Off-the-shelf Dassult Rafale twin engine fighters.
About 15 per cent of this cost is being paid in advance. As per deal, India
will also get spares and weaponry including the meteor missile.
Here is a question
arises why Modi scrapped the early deal of UPA government which was
comparatively more beneficial for India. It is argued in Indian media that the
reason is Ambani. Within less than 2 weeks after Dassault bagged India’s 126
MMRCS deal, Mukesh Ambani became Dassault’s partner. So did Anil Ambani,
afterwards. Now Dassault, which was ready to provide 126 Rafales at USD
10.2Billion, 18 ready to fly and 108 to be made in India by Hindustan
Aeronautics Limited (HAL), asked additional money foe weapon system and
technology transfer stretching the deal from 10.2 Billion to USD 14-18 Billion.
Not only this, they also refused to provide any guarantee for planes made by
HAL. In short, they broke every single clause, rider in the original contract.
There are numerous stories in the media about these escalated prices. The
figure quoted by Defence Minister
Parrikar is very strange. Speaking to Doordarshan on April 13, 2015, Parrikar
had revealed Rafale’s bid for 126 fighters, stating; “When you talk of 126
(Rafale) aircraft, it becomes a purchase of about 90,000 Crores’-Rs 715 Crores
per fighter after adding all cost.” Parrikar had escalated the deal from 10.2
Billion USD to 14 billion USD (Rs 90,000) Crores without any apparent reason.
And, merely a month later, on May 31, 2015, Parrikar was quoted as saying “the
UPA deal for 126 fighters was too expensive and it would have hampered other
modernization plans of Indian military. The deal would have required around 1.3
lakh Crores over a period of 10-11 years, he added.” Very suspicious, an
already escalated figure of 90,000 Crore for the deal merely a month ago had
suddenly become 20 USD Billion now, almost 50 % increase in 50 days, for no
rhyme or reason. Was the Modi government merely feeling these figures and lying
to the media to justify its grounds for the renegotiation?
When the Dassault
entered the bid, it had no leverage and much to lose if it did not get the bid.
Dassault was desperate, its reputation of being non-transparent in its business
(rates worst-F Band by Transparency international) was not helping it much and
Dassult’s CEO himself was caught up in charges of financial irregularities. But
Dassault-Ambani partnership changed everything. Now Ambani who controlled most
of the politicians, thus controlled the government itself, was Dassault’s
partner. So Dassult-Ambani started arm twisting Indian government to get the
most out of the deal. Read about Ambai’s Gas Scams to know about his
arm-twisting prowess. Thankfully, it was not that easy. A first whiff of
corruption, the defence Minister of UPA at the time, AK Antony- considered as
honest politician, stopped serious negotiation, delaying the deal. So
Dassault-Ambani had to wait for more tham two years until Modi became PM. It is
to notify that Modi ambani unholy nexus is not a secret anymore. So as soon
Modi had an opportunity, he ractified the deal that is most disadvantageous to
India and most profitablr to Dassault-Ambani. Modi not only single handedly
took this decision, without even getting formal cabinet in confidence and also
kept Defence Minister Parrikar himself in dark. It has been said that Modi’s
top guns Jaitley, Parrikar etc are not happy with Modi’s deal. Subramaniam
Swami of BJP has publically spoken against and written a letter to Modi to stop
the deal. No one is talking about it, because most of Indian mrdia had been
reduced to Modi’s cheerleaders.
It can be said that
procurement deal for 36 Rafale fighter has become a mega corruption scam as
lack of “sovereign guarantee”. Issue has created a puzzling situation for
Modi’s government as there is no government-to-government guarantee extended to
the deal by the French government. In the wake of new revelations and lack of
“sovereign guarantee” objection, Modi government’s Rafale aircraft deal has
become a Real Nightmare for Modi (who is also accused of bypassing official
procedure in inking the deal). Moreover, Indian opposition is also gearing up
efforts to launch fresh onslaught against Modi. Reportedly, a French legal
organization that examines the illicit financial flow, has filed a corruption
complain over the controversial Rafale deal with France’s national financial
prosecutor’s office. By filliping the issue of Rafale aircraft deal, Indain PM
has admitted incapability of Indian Air Force for any ear/conflict. Moreover,
Modi has raised the doubts about the preparedness, training etc of IAF. Such
utterances from the mouth of top leadership of the country are demoralizing for
the IAF, which has been politicized and forced to wage a “political war” of
desperate Modi who wants to win the Lok Sabha elections at any cost. As Modi is
under pressure from the opposition over the extravagant price of Rafale
aircraft deal, his filliping of the issue and scathing attack against
opposition is another mischievous attempt to befool Indian public and
politician under the shield of Modi instigated situation of ultra nationalism
(I;e war mongering hysterics against Pakistan).
