The Congress Party has been using a document of the Rafale company to claim that India had paid for the aircraft in comparison to Egypt and Qatar.
The Modi Govt’s overpriced Rafale deal has caused a staggering loss of ₹12,632 crores to the nation. Countries like Egypt & Qatar purchased the same fighter aircraft at lower prices than India. PM Modi must come clean on the details of this deal immediately. #RafaleScamExposed pic.twitter.com/YQKTB9AfAh
— Congress (@INCIndia) March 10, 2018
These unfounded claims have been put to rest by Rafale Chief Eric Trappier in an interview to Times Now. While refusing to divulge the actual details which would result in the higher value of the entire deal, he said that the difference was due to higher capabilities and nature of the contract between India and France.
When asked for the reason for the higher price, he said, ‘you have to compare what can be compared‘. Mr Trappier said the price of the plane was same for all countries if the same contract were to be signed for all countries. ‘It is irrelevant to say that the price is different. The scope is different. We are not selling the same type of product around or same type of capabilities in here to other countries, so this is a matter of difference,’ he clarified.
He said that the number of years of support given to India is not the same as that offered to other countries. If that were taken into account, the price would turn out to be the same he told. The total support given to India has a broader scope as per Rafale chief.
#WATCH: The #FranceRafaleVersion | Rafale maker speaks out, says, ‘Clean deal, no loss to India pic.twitter.com/Jptg2tLkah
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) March 10, 2018
The clarification offered by the Rafale chief clearly takes the wind out of the Congress sails as far as accusations of a ‘higher price’ being paid by the BJP led government for Rafale aircraft.
Meanwhile, the French president has made an interesting remark that he wouldn’t interfere if the government were to reveal some details to allay the concerns of the opposition regarding the Rafale deal. After the clarification offered by the Rafale chief, this demand may also lose its significance as the national interest would be jeopardized if the details were to be revealed.
