Raising several questions over the Rs 59,000-crore Rafale fighter jet deal, Congress on Saturday said the absence of any provision of technology transfer would cost India “very heavily”.
Former Defence Minister A K Antony also demanded making public the inter-governmental agreement with France. He wondered how India would bridge the gap with respect to China and Pakistan by acquiring just 36 aircraft when the original plan was for 126.
Addressing a press conference along with party spokesman Manish Tewari at the AICC headquarters, Antony lamented that the idea of ‘Make in India’ which was there in the original plan has also “gone” in the present deal.
“During UPA, we had planned to buy 126 aircraft to strengthen IAF which was its urgent operational requirement considering security situation in the country,” Antony said wondering why only 36 aircraft were being bought.
“Is it enough to meet operational requirement of the IAF which has a sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons and…. at present there are just 32 squadrons?”, Antony asked. A squadron has generally 18 aircraft.
