‘Govt forcing IAF brass to lie to defend Rafale scam’

NEW DELHI: Claiming that PM Narendra Modi was “directly culpable” in the Rafale fighter deal, former BJP leaders Yashwant Sinha and

Arun Shourie

alleged he had jeopardised national security by “unilaterally” striking the Rs 59,000 crore deal by violating all defence procurement procedures.


Addressing a press conference with lawyer Prashant Bhushan here, the two former ministers said the government was now “forcing” the IAF top brass to “lie” and come out in support of the deal inked for 36 Rafale fighters in September 2016. The IAF, which originally wanted 126 fighters with transfer of technology, is “actually demoralised” at getting just 36 jets without any “Make in India” component.

“Each time the government gives an explanation, it gets caught in its web of lies. They are coming out with a concoction of lies to hoodwink the country and protect one man, the PM,” said Shourie. Referring to minister of state M J Akbar’s recent article that there was no “Uncle Quattrocchi in the Rafale deal” like the one in the Bofors scam, Sinha said there was there was “no need for an uncle since there is a nephew” this time.

The trio alleged Modi had favoured Anil Ambani-led Reliance Defence over PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) as the main offsets partner of

Dassault Aviation

in the Rafale deal, with the industrialist’s Reliance Entertainment also entering a deal to produce a film with the then French President’s François Hollande’s partner and actor Julie Gayet.


Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.