Allegations against Rafale deal 'shameful', 'disservice' to armed forces: Nirmala Sitharaman

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Friday that the allegations against the Rafale deal were "shameful" and a "disservice" to the country's armed forces.

Sitharaman's remarks came a day after Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of changing the "entire deal" for the benefit of one businessman.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

India is buying 36 Rafale fighter jets from France.

The Congress has alleged the deal is overpriced, and that there is a scam brewing.

And that the deal was changed to benefit Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence Limited.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken to the French government about the jets during his April 2015 visit to Paris.

The final agreement for the jets was signed in 2016.

The Congress has alleged that the planes are being bought at three times the price the former UPA government had negotiated with France.

The 36 Rafale jets are going to cost India Rs 58,000 crore.

The Congress says the UPA government had negotiated a $10.2 billion deal for the acquisition of 126 Rafale jets while the NDA government renegotiated the deal down to $8.7 billion -- but for just 36 fighters.

Sitharaman retorted Friday that the Congress had sat on the deal for 10 years -- at the cost of national security.

"This (delay) potentially compromised national security interests," the minister was quoted as saying.

Sitharaman added Friday that the deal was signed after five rounds of discussions between the Indian and French sides, and approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security.

"These allegations are shameful...The deal was finalised following a transparent procedure," PTI reported Sitharaman as telling reporters.

Indian Air Force Chief BS Dhano had on Thursday also weighed in on the controversy, saying he did not understand what it was about.

"This is a cheaper deal," he had said.