IAF inducts Rafale in Golden Arrows squadron, all eyes now on deployment

 Amid palpable tension at the Line of Actual Control with China, the Indian Air Force inducted the newly acquired Rafale fighter jets into its fold on Thursday. The jets that flew into India from France on July 29 have been inducted into the Golden Arrows squadron of the IAF at the Ambala airbase.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh without naming China said that the induction of Rafale is a strong message to eyes being raised towards the territorial integrity of India. This induction is especially critical for the atmosphere being created on our borders.

Air Marsha RKS Bhadauria said, "This induction could not have happened at a more opportune time considering the security situation today. The aircraft has already flown and familiarised with the operational needs and Rafale are good to go and deliver."

ALSO READ: Rafale induction: Five new birds fly into Golden Arrows' quiver

The IAF had recently resurrected the Golden Arrows squadron, which was originally raised at Air Force Station, Ambala on Oct 1, 1951. The 17 Squadron has many firsts to its credit; in 1955 it was equipped with the first jet fighter, the legendary De Havilland Vampire.

RafaleFirst batch of five Rafale combat jets arrived in India on July 29. | Photo: @DefenceMinIndia

Ahead of the official induction, the Rafel performed aerobatic maneuvers including a high-speed flypast, an inverted sequence, and the iconic vertical charlie. This was followed by an aerial display by indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas over the airbase along with the Sarang arobatic team.

With the induction complete all eyes will be on the first deployment of the medium multi-role combat aircraft, likely along the international border. The event during the day was attended by India and French defense ministers signalling greater cooperation between the two nations.

The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived in India on July 29, nearly four years after India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to procure 36 of the aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. Ten Rafale jets have been delivered to India so far and five of them stayed back in France for imparting training to IAF pilots. The delivery of all 36 aircraft is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021.

Rafale, IAFIAF Rafale aircraft touching down at Air Force Station Ambala on its arrival after covering a distance of nearly 8500 km from France to India.

The second batch of four to five Rafale jets is likely to arrive in India by November.

 

The Rafale jets, known for air-superiority and precision strikes, are India's first major acquisition of fighter planes in 23 years after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia.

"Rafale is a gamechanger in national security scenario for India as the aircraft offers high-speed maneuverability, landing and multi-role capability that equips it with precise action against enemies. The aircraft will revolutionise the capabilities of the IAF."

The Rafale jet is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. European missile maker MBDA's Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile and Scalp cruise missile will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets.

Rafale, IAFRafale aircraft being presented a water cannon salute to mark its induction in Indian Air Force, at Air Force Station in Ambala.

Meteor is a next-generation beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) designed to revolutionise air-to-air combat. The weapon has been developed by MBDA to combat common threats facing the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and Sweden.

Out of 36 Rafale jets, 30 will be fighter jets and six will be trainers. The trainer jets will be twin-seater and they will have almost all the features of the fighter jets.

RCom arm got huge tax waiver from France after Rafale deal: Report

The French authorities waived taxes amounting to over Rs 1,000 crore (Euro 143.7 million) for a French-registered company of the Anil Ambani group within six months of the announcement by India to buy 36 Rafale jets in 2015, French newspaper Le Monde said.
It claimed that “between February and October 2015, while the French were negotiating the Rafale contract with India, Anil Ambani got a tax waiver of Euro 143.7 million from the French state”.

When contacted, a Reliance Communications spokesperson denied any favouritism by France and said Reliance FLAG Atlantic France SAS, a subsidiary, owned a terrestrial cable network and other telecom infrastructure in France.
“During the period under consideration by the French tax authorities — 2008-2012 — i.e. nearly 10 years ago, Flag France had an operating loss of Rs 20 crore (Euro 2.7 million). The French tax authorities had raised a tax demand of over Rs 1,100 crore for the same period. According to the French tax settlement process and as per law, a mutual settlement agreement was signed to pay Rs 56 crore as a final settlement,” the spokesperson said, adding that the tax demand was completely illegal.
The company said the settlement was done much before the Indian government decided to purchase Rafale jets.
In a statement, the Indian defence ministry said: “Any connections drawn between the tax issue and the Rafale deal is totally inaccurate, tendentious, and a mischievous attempt to disinform.” Neither the period of the tax concession nor the subject matter of the concession relates even remotely to the Rafale deal concluded during the tenure of the present government, it said.
Reacting to the controversy, the French government said a global settlement was reached between the French tax authorities and Reliance FLAG, in a tax dispute pertaining to the period 2008-2012. “This settlement was conducted in full adherence with the legislative and regulatory framework governing this common practice of the tax administration. It was not subject to any political interference,” French Ambassador to India Alexandre Zeigler tweeted.
The Le Monde report revealed that Anil Ambani’s French telecom company was under scrutiny. “The company was investigated by the French tax authorities and was found liable to pay Euro 60 million in taxes for the period 2007 to 2010. Reliance offered to pay Euro 7.6 million as a settlement. The French tax authorities refused. They conducted another investigation for the period 2010 to 2012 and asked for an additional Euro 91 million in taxes,” tweeted Julien Bouissou, the South Asia correspondent for Le Monde, who wrote the story with Anne Michel. By the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the plans to buy Rafale fighter jets from Dassault in April 2015, the Anil Ambani-firm had owed about Euro 151 million to the French government. However, six months after Modi’s Rafale announcement, in October 2015, the French tax authorities accepted only Euro 7.3 million from Reliance as a settlement, instead of the much bigger sum of Euro 151 million, Le Monde reported.
Congress’ chief spokesperson, Randeep Surjewala, attacked the government, saying layers of corruption and money trail had been unveiled in the Rafale saga. “This is called zero-sum choices, startling tax concession and Modi ‘kripa’ (blessings),” he said.
The controversy
French tax authorities accepted Euro 7.3 million from Reliance Flag Atlantic France as a settlement, as against original demand of Euro 151 million, according to French newspaper Le Monde
The alleged waiver came months after PM Modi announced the deal in 2015
RCom says the tax dispute was settled under legal framework available for all companies operating in France
French govt clarifies the settlement was conducted in full adherence with the legislative and regulatory framework
India’s defence ministry terms the controversy a mischievous attempt to disinform

Rafale case: Will first decide on Centre's preliminary objections, says SC

The Supreme Court made it clear on Thursday that it will decide first on the preliminary objections raised by the Centre and then go into the facts of the Rafale fighter jet deal case. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked the petitioners seeking review of its order to focus on the preliminary objections regarding admissibility of the leaked documents.
"Only after we decide the preliminary objection raised by the Centre, we will go into the facts of the case," said the bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph.

At the outset, Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, claimed privilege over documents pertaining to the Rafale fighter jet deal with France and told the Supreme Court that no one can produce them in the court without the permission of the department concerned.
Venugopal referred to section 123 of the Evidence Act and provisions of RTI Act to buttress his claim. He told the top court that no one can publish documents which relate to national security as the security of the State supercedes everything.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, one of the petitioners seeking review, opposed the submission and said that the Rafale deal documents, which AG says are privileged, have been published and are already in public domain.
Bhushan said that provisions of RTI Act say public interest outweighs other things and no privilege can be claimed except for documents which pertain to intelligence agencies.
There is no government-to-government contract in purchasing Rafale jets as there is no sovereign guarantee extended to India by France in the Rs 58,000 crore deal, Bhushan said.
He also said the Press Council of India Act provides provisions for protecting sources of journalists.

I suppose thief returned Rafale files: Chidambaram on AG's fresh remarks

Taking a swipe at Attorney General K K Venugopal's fresh remark on Rafale documents, senior Congress leader P Chidambram Saturday said that from "stolen documents" they became "photocopied documents" as the "thief" may have returned them.
His jibe came a day after the attorney general said that the Rafale documents were not stolen from the Defence Ministry and that what he meant in his submission before the Supreme Court on Wednesday was that petitioners in the application used "photocopies of the original" papers, deemed secret by the government.

"On Wednesday, it was 'stolen documents'. On Friday, it was 'photocopied documents'.I suppose the thief returned the documents in between on Thursday," Chidambaram said in a series of tweets.
"On Wednesday, the Official Secrets Act was shown to the newspaper. On Friday, the 'Olive Branches Act' was shown. We salute common sense," the former finance minister said.
Venugopal's comments in the apex court on Wednesday that Rafale fighter jet deal documents were stolen had caused a political row, with Congress president Rahul Gandhi targeting the government over stealing of such sensitive papers and seeking a criminal investigation.
ALSO READ: Rafale documents not stolen, petitioners used photocopies: Attorney General
Venugopal had sought dismissal of a petition for a review of the Supreme Court's earlier judgment on the Rafale deal on the ground that the fresh plea relied on documents "stolen" from the Defence Ministry and that investigations were going on to find out if it was a crime and violative of the Official Secrets Act.
"I am told that the opposition has alleged what was argued (in SC) was that files had been stolen from the Defence Ministry. This is wholly incorrect. The statement that files have been stolen is wholly incorrect," Venugopal told PTI on Friday, in an apparent damage-control exercise.
ALSO READ: Investigate everyone in Rafale deal, including PM Modi: Rahul Gandhi
The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday sparred over the attorney general's fresh remarks, with the opposition party dubbing it a "lie" and the ruling party slamming Gandhi for his attack on the government over the issue.

Rafale documents not stolen, petitioners used photocopies: Attorney General

Attorney General K K Venugopal on Friday said documents related to the purchase of Rafale fighter jets were not stolen from the Defence Ministry and what he meant before the Supreme Court was that petitioners in the application used "photocopies of the original" papers, deemed secret by the government.
His comments in the apex court on Wednesday that Rafale fighter jet deal documents were stolen caused a political row, with Congress president Rahul Gandhi targeting the government over stealing of such sensitive papers and seeking a criminal investigation.

"I am told that the opposition has alleged what was argued (in the Supreme Court) was that files had been stolen from the Defence Ministry. This is wholly incorrect. The statement that files have been stolen is wholly incorrect," Venugopal, the government’s top legal officer, told PTI.
Venugopal said the application filed by Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and Prashant Bhushant, seeking from the court a review of its verdict dismissing pleas for a probe into against the Rafale deal, had annexed three documents which were photocopies of the original.
Official sources said the Venugopal 's use of the word "stolen" was probably "stronger" and could have been avoided.
N Ram, Chairman of The Hindu group of newspapers, had rejected Venugopal’s allegation that the documents were “stolen” and those publishing them were guilty under the Official Secrets Act.
"We did not steal the documents from the Ministry of Defence, we got them from confidential sources and no force on earth can make me or us reveal the source of the documents, because we have given our word," Ram had said.

Rafale papers stolen from ministry, dismiss review petitions, govt tells SC

The documents, based on which details of alleged misdoings in the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France were published by newspapers, were stolen from the Ministry of Defence either by current or former employees of the ministry, the central government told the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
As these documents pertain to defence deals and are covered under the Official Secrets Act, the government is planning to take “criminal action” against the newspapers which published the stories and the petitioner who used it in his petition, Attorney General (AG) K K Venugopal told the court.

Since the stories and petitions included top secret defence documents which were stolen, the top court should dismiss the review petitions, AG Venugopal said.
The three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, however, rejected this line of argument and sought to know that even if these documents were stolen but proved the point the petitioner was trying to raise, whether the court should consider it or not. It also sought to know if the central government could hide behind the argument of national security when there was a case of corruption.
“If there is a question of corruption, can anyone take shelter under the argument of national security?” Justice K M Joseph asked AG Venugopal. The court also sought to know from the government as to what action it had taken so far, if indeed the documents related to the fighter aircraft deal had been stolen from the defence ministry.
Responding to the court’s query, AG Venugopal said that an investigation was underway to determine the exact source of the theft. A First Information Report (FIR), however, had not yet been registered, he said.
The bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi was hearing a bunch of petitions seeking review of the court’s judgment dismissing probe into the purchase of Rafale fighter jets. The review petition has been moved by former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie, as well as Senior Advocate Prashant Bhushan, among others.
On December 14, the top court had dismissed all pleas seeking a court monitored probe into the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft from France. The top court had then said it had found “no occasion to doubt the (decision-making) process” and thus would not interfere.
“We find no reason for any intervention by this Court on the sensitive issue of purchase of 36 defence aircraft by the Indian Government. Perception of individuals cannot be the basis of fishing and roving enquiry by this Court, especially in such matters," the top court had then said.
In their review petition moved before the top court, Sinha, Shourie and Bhushan have alleged that the government had suppressed crucial facts related to the fighter aircraft deal and hence mislead the court. They had alleged that the court had relied on “patently incorrect” claims made by Centre in the note it had submitted to the top court while it was hearing the original petition.
Objecting to the government’s plea that ordering a probe into the fighter aircraft deal would undermine the national security of the country and did not warrant the court’s interference, Bhushan said that the proposition was astounding.
“It is an astounding proposition being made that in the case of a defence deal the courts must not interfere. If an allegation of corruption is made, then it is duty of investigation agency to probe as per Constitution Bench judgment of this court. It is a different thing if they don't find they can file a closure report,” Bhushan told the court during the hearing on Wednesday.
Bhushan also expressed shock that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India’s report, which had been placed in the parliament, had redacted the bits which contained details about the pricing of Rafale fighter aircraft.
“In every report of CAG, where a defence deal has been audited, all pricing details are given. For the first time in history of CAG, at the insistence of the government, the price details have been redacted,” Bhushan said.
The court will next hear the matter on March 14.

India missing Rafale most now, feeling need of those fighter jets: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Opposition of playing politics over the Rafale deal, saying the entire country was now feeling the need of these fighter planes.
“The country has felt the shortage of Rafale jets. Today, India is asking in one voice what could have happened if we had Rafale. First selfish policies and then politics over the Rafale deal have harmed the nation,” Modi said at the India Today Conclave in the national capital.

The PM’s remarks came days after the Indian Air Force (IAF) struck the biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad inside Pakistan in a pre-dawn operation. In the subsequent confrontation, both countries shot down each other’s jets, with Pakistan capturing one IAF pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. He was released on Friday.

The PM said fear had been created among anti-national elements both within and outside India, and that recent events showed India’s foreign policy clout.
He also sought to differentiate between the programmes of his government such as the PM Kisan Nidhi Yojana and those of the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime such as farm-debt waiver. He alleged that the previous governments were only interested in commissions, deals in defence, and offering doles to the poor in their programmes.
“Those who ruled the nation for many years have interest in only two things — doles and deals. The culture of doles and deals has harmed our nations’s development journey greatly. The biggest sufferers of this approach were kisan (farmers) and jawans (soldiers),” he said.
Selfish policies and politics over Rafale deal have harmed nation: PM Modi Rolling out statistics to buttress his claims, he said defence forces made the request of buying 186,000 bullet-proof jackets, but the UPA government did not purchase even one. The NDA government, on the other hand, bought 230,000 such jackets, he said. Without naming the Congress, Modi asked as to why were there so many scams under its regimes. “They began with jeeps and later graduated to weapons, submarines and helicopters. In the process, the defence sector suffered.”
He said defence modernisation did not happen in the previous regimes. “Who is every dealmaker close to? Who is every middleman close to? The entire nation knows and Lutyens Delhi surely knows,” he said.
The PM said the Opposition’s hatred for Modi had now expanded to their hatred to the nation.
He said his government’s schemes and programmes such as PM Kisan speak volumes about comprehensive focus on the targeted beneficiaries against tokenism offered by the UPA such as farm-debt waiver.
As such, he said he got the people’s mandate to meet their needs in 2014, while 2019 would be the mandate for meeting their aspirations. “Unlike farm-debt waiver, PM Kisan is a long-term and long-lasting scheme,” Modi said.
The PM similarly criticised the UPA government for “half-heartedly implementing” its much-talked about Food Security Act in just 11 states, putting hike in the minimum support price for crops on the cold storage.
Earlier at the same event, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley dismissed the criticism of his government for the alleged jobless growth.
He said the economy had been growing at an average growth rate of 7-7.5 per cent a year for five years. He called the mahagathbandhan of opposition parties as the common programme of ‘Nawabs of Negativity’, aimed at removing only one man from the power.
Jaitley also took on former prime minister Manmohan Singh for saying that the recent incidents between India and Pakistan reflected “a mad rush for destruction by two nations”. “You (Manmohan Singh) are equating the victim of terrorism with the perpetrator of terrorism,” he said.

'No mention of Rafale': Parrikar accuses Rahul Gandhi of petty politics

Ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday accused Congress president Rahul Gandhi of using his courtesy visit to him for "petty political gains", asserting that there was no mention of the Rafale issue in their five-minute meeting.
In a letter to Gandhi, Parrikar asked the Congress chief to put out the truth and not to use his visit to an ailing person to "feed political opportunism", BJP sources said.
His letter came a day after Gandhi targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale deal, claiming that Parrikar, who is a former defence minister, had clearly stated that he has nothing to do with the 'new deal'.

ALSO READ: Ailing Manohar Parrikar presents Goa budget, says he's high on 'josh'
"Friends, the ex-defence minister Mr Parrikar clearly stated that he has nothing to do with the new deal that was orchestrated by Mr Narendra Modi to benefit Anil Ambani," the Congress leader told a booth-level party workers meeting here.
His statement had come hours after he met Parrikar at the Goa assembly complex in Panaji.
In his letter to Gandhi, Parrikar said he feels "let down that you have used this visit for your petty political gains. In the 05 minutes you spent with me, neither did you mention anything about Rafale, not did we discuss anything about/related to it."

Rafale debate highlights: Sitharaman ran away from my questions, says Rahul

Tearing into the Congress on the Rafale deal issue, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday alleged that the party stalled the deal when it was in power as it "didn't get money" and ignored national security.
During her nearly two-hour-long reply to a discussion on the Rafale issue in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman accused the Congress of resorting to falsehood to mislead the country and gave a "point-by-point" rebuttal to the Opposition's allegations, including on the price of the fighter aircraft and HAL not getting the offset contract.
"Defence ministry has been functioning without dalals (middlemen) during five years of (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi. Rafale is a decision in national interest. I don't want to talk about Bofors because that is a scam and not Rafale. Bofors brought you down. Rafale will bring Modi back to have a new and transforming India and remove corruption which is stinking around the Congress," the minister said.

Countering the Congress' charge, she said that it was the Indian Air Force that suggested that the government buy two squadrons or 36 Rafale jets in fly-away condition instead of 18, as was planned to be purchased under the Congress-led UPA government.
She also accused the Congress of compromising with national security in the interest of the party's "treasury" while deciding on buying 126 fighter jets.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said Sitharaman gave a long speech in Parliament but did not answer any of his posers on the Rafale deal and "ran away". Gandhi's assertion came after Sitharaman gave the government's reply on the Rafale fighter jet deal issue in the Lok Sabha.
"The defence minister did not answer any of the questions I asked on the Rafale deal. She did not even take the name of Anil Ambani," Gandhi told reporters outside Parliament. Gandhi said he put two questions to the minister towards the end of the debate and asked her to reply in yes or no. "I asked that after a long negotiation process, those people who participated in that negotiations -- Air Force chief, defence minister, secretaries, Air Force officials -- when the prime minister did a 'bypass surgery'... did the Air Force people object, yes or know," Gandhi said. "And you saw that instead of answering this, the defence minister started doing drama that 'I have been insulted, I was called a liar'," he said.
Here are live updates on the Rafale debate, Cauvery issue, Triple Talaq Bill.
Read our full coverage on Parliament winter session
CATCH ALL THE LIVE UPDATES
05:59 PM
"The PM cannot come (to Parliament), and the chief minister of Goa is saying I have a file and I will get back at the PM. She gave a two-and-a-half hour speech and did not answer any questions," Gandhi said.
05:59 PM
It was a straight question and without answering that she "ran away", the Congress chief said.
05:58 PM
Addressing the country's youth, Gandhi said the minister was attempting to mislead them.
05:56 PM
Gandhi said he put two questions to the minister towards the end of the debate and asked her to reply in yes or no.
05:56 PM
"The defence minister did not answer any of the questions I asked on the Rafale deal. She did not even take the name of Anil Ambani," Gandhi told reporters outside Parliament.
05:56 PM
Defence minister did drama: Rahul Gandhi
"I asked that after a long negotiation process, those people who participated in that negotiations -- Air Force chief, defence minister, secretaries, Air Force officials -- when the prime minister did a 'bypass surgery'... did the Air Force people object, yes or know," Gandhi said. "And you saw that instead of answering this, the defence minister started doing drama that 'I have been insulted, I was called a liar'," he said.
05:54 PM
Sitharaman gave a long speech in Parliament but did not answer any of my questions: Rahul Gandhi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave a long speech in Parliament but did not answer any of his posers on the Rafale deal and "ran away". Gandhi's assertion came after Sitharaman gave the government's reply on the Rafale fighter jet deal issue in the Lok Sabha.
05:36 PM
Questioning the seriousness of the Congress in discussing the facts of the Rafale deal, Sitharaman said when Finance Minister and former Defence Minister Arun Jaitley was speaking in the House on Wednesday, the Opposition party members were clicking pictures and throwing paper airplanes.
05:35 PM
While countering Congress president Rahul Gandhi's claim that a French leader had told him that there was no secrecy clause in the deal, Sitharaman asked Gandhi to authenticate his claim on the floor of the House.
05:35 PM
Talking about ADAG group, which got the offset contract for the fighter jet deals, Sitharaman said the company obtained 53 waivers and concessions during the Congress-led UPA regime.
05:35 PM
"You are misleading the country by saying the NDA government reduced 126 Rafale jets to 36. Congress was supposed to buy 18 in fly-away condition, the NDA raised that to 36," Sitharaman said.
05:34 PM
"The price of the basic aircraft cannot be compared with price of weaponised aircraft," Sitharaman further said.
05:34 PM
"Comparing the cost of Rs 526 crore with Rs 1,600 crore is like comparing apples to oranges. The cost quoted in 2007... will it remain the same in 2016, because there is escalation cost and there is exchange rate variation," Sitharaman said.
05:34 PM
With regard to the pricing difference, Sitharaman said that there was no formal price noting by the Congress of Rs 526 crore as the deal price but that the price negotiated by the NDA government was nine per cent lower than what was negotiated by the UPA.
05:30 PM
Sitharaman hits back
During her nearly two-hour-long reply to the discussion on the Rafale issue in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman informed the House that under the deal finalised by the NDA government, the delivery of the first Rafale jet would happen in 2019, while the last of the 36 jets would be delivered in 2022.
05:25 PM
Defence minister ran away: Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi after Rafale debate in LS: "You (Defence Minister) accepted in your speech that you started a new contract of buying 36 aircraft, so I asked them if the people involved in the negotiations objected to this bypass surgery, yes or no? Instead of answering this, she ran away."
ANI
✔
@ANI
Rahul Gandhi after #Rafale debate in LS: You (Def Min) accepted in your speech that you started a new contract of buying 36 aircraft, so I asked them if the people involved in the negotiations objected to this bypass surgery, yes or no? Instead of answering this, she ran away.
ANI
✔
@ANI
Rahul Gandhi after #Rafale debate in LS: Many questions were raised. No questions were answered. She (Def Min) didn’t take Anil Ambani’s name for 2 hrs.I asked if objection was raised by Air Force when PM did bypass surgery? Instead of answering this question,she started a drama
View image on Twitter
176
5:17 PM - Jan 4, 2019
Twitter Ads info and privacy
128 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
05:08 PM
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday congratulated Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her "outstanding" response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's questions and allegations over the Rafale deal in the Lok Sabha.
Arun Jaitley
✔
@arunjaitley
Well done! Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman ji, for an outstanding performance. You demolished the fake campaign. We are all proud of your performance. @nsitharaman
30.2K
4:33 PM - Jan 4, 2019
Twitter Ads info and privacy
9,387 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
05:03 PM
Defence minister didn't take Anil Ambani's name for two hours: Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi after the Rafale debate in Lok Sabha: Many questions were raised. No questions were answered. She (Defence Minister) didn't take Anil Ambani's name for two hours. I asked if objection was raised by Air Force when PM did bypass surgery? Instead of answering this question, she started a drama."

View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter
ANI
✔
@ANI
Rahul Gandhi after #Rafale debate in LS: Many questions were raised. No questions were answered. She (Def Min) didn’t take Anil Ambani’s name for 2 hrs.I asked if objection was raised by Air Force when PM did bypass surgery? Instead of answering this question,she started a drama
427
4:59 PM - Jan 4, 2019
311 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
05:01 PM
Defence Minister Sitharaman did not answer any of my questions on Rafale deal: Rahul Gandhi
04:51 PM
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha: Have you (Rahul Gandhi) apologised after having winked an eye at PM, after hugging the PM? This is not the way a House should run.
View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter
ANI
✔
@ANI
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha: Have you (Rahul Gandhi) apologised after having winked an eye at PM, after hugging the PM? This is not the way a House should run.
892
4:31 PM - Jan 4, 2019
400 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
04:50 PM
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman: I don't have a 'khandan' to boast on. PM Modi also comes from an economically backward background. He has come here from hard work. I have my honour intact. PM has his honour intact. We have all come from normal backgrounds.

View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter
ANI
✔
@ANI
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman: I don't have a 'khandan' to boast on. PM also comes from a poor background. He has come here from hard work. I have my honour intact. PM has his honour intact. We have all come from normal backgrounds.
2,884
4:27 PM - Jan 4, 2019
1,331 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
04:12 PM
Who decided on Anil Ambani, asks Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha: Price is not part of the secrecy pact. My question is Anil Ambani was brought in for the contract. Who was the one to decide on Anil Ambani?

View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter
ANI
✔
@ANI
Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha: Price is not part of the secrecy pact. My question is Anil Ambani was brought in for the contract. Who was the one to decide on Anil Ambani?
189
4:09 PM - Jan 4, 2019
148 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
04:06 PM
I am very clear that PM Modi is directly involved in the Rafale scam. I am not accusing Nirmala Sitharaman of being involved in the scam. Other than defending a liar, she is not involved; I have no proof of her involvement at the time: Rahul Gandhi
04:05 PM
My humble advice to PM Modi was that kindly pick-up the phone and tell the ex-President of France to not make such accusations against you: Rahul Gandhi

04:01 PM
I was surprised that the money that belongs to the people of India, details about that are not being given to the people: Rahul Gandhi
04:00 PM
Congress President Rahul Gandhi responds to Defence Minister Sitharaman
03:59 PM
Defence Ministry has run without 'dalals' under the Modi government: Sitharaman
03:59 PM
Bofors was a scam, Rafale is a decision taken in national interest: Sitharaman
Bofors brought Congress down, Rafale will bring Modi back to build new India and remove corruption stinking around Congress: Sitharaman
03:56 PM
On the benchmark price, the price was compared to the 126 MMRCA L1 offer. The Indian side arrived at a better offer. There has been no loss to the exchequer. We have given you a better deal: Sitharaman
03:54 PM
The CAG is conducting the performance audit of capital acquisitions of air systems, including the acquisition of 36 Rafale jets. The complete draft audit report was received by the Defence Ministry in December. The response for the same is being framed: Sitharaman

View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter
ANI
✔
@ANI
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha: CAG is conducting performance audit of capital acquisition of air systems including the 36 Rafale. Complete draft audit report has been received in Ministry of Defence in Dec 2018. Response is under preparation.
144
3:59 PM - Jan 4, 2019
60 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy

Rafale LIVE: Why was debt-laden firm made offset partner, asks Trinamool MP

The Rafale row took centre stage in Lok Sabha proceedings on Wednesday with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley defending the Modi government's procurement of the French fighter jet. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi sought permission to play a purported audio tape of a Goa minister on the Rafale deal but refused to authenticate it, prompting Union Minister Arun Jaitley to accuse him speaking "lies repeatedly".
Initiating a discussion on the Rafale issue, Gandhi targeted Narendra Modi, claiming that he "does not have guts" to come to Parliament to confront questions on the issue and "hides" in his room.
The Congress leader also rejected Modi's claim in an interview that there was no personal allegation against him, saying this is not true as the entire nation is asking him direct question.

Jaitley demanded if he can authenticate it, but the Congress leader said he would not do so.
ALSO READ: Rafale deal: How purchase of 126 jets from France became a controversy
Catch LIVE updates of parliament winter session here
Read our full coverage on Parliament winter session
CATCH ALL THE LIVE UPDATES
05:08 PM
Lok Sabha adjourned till Thursday.
04:49 PM
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourns House till 5:00 PM
04:16 PM
The money trail in Rafale deal is through "Reliance chhotabhai Ambani," says Saugata Roy, referring to Anil Ambani and his company Reliance Defence.
04:14 PM
Embedded video
ANI
✔
@ANI
#WATCH Moment when Congress MPs threw paper planes towards FM Arun Jaitley while he was speaking during #Rafaledeal debate in Lok Sabha (Source:LS TV)
2,397
4:10 PM - Jan 2, 2019
1,598 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
04:01 PM
View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter
ANI
✔
@ANI
Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Congress MP: We threw the paper planes (in Lok Sabha during FM Arun Jaitley's statement) as the discussion was on Rafale, so talk about Rafale, but they were talking about Bofors, Agusta Westland and National Herald. We want a JPC on this issue.
224
3:54 PM - Jan 2, 2019
154 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
03:59 PM
Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy speaking on Rafale deal, questions government on why Reliance Defence was selected as offset partner in French fighter jet deal.
03:53 PM
The Opposition line is "our hands our corrupt, so we will make allegations against a clean government": Jaitley
03:49 PM
Jaitley says Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) not required to probe Rafale deal as it's not a matter of policy or governance. As the Supreme Court has given the deal a clean chit, there's no need to further investigate the matter.
03:44 PM
The offset partner (Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence) is not manufacturing the Rafale jet. Rahul Gandhi's education should begin with 'ABC': Arun Jaitley
03:37 PM
Jaitley says Air Force in dire need of fighter jets since 2001. "Cost of basic aircraft 9% cheaper than UPA-era agreement and weaponised jet 20% cheaper."
03:01 PM
Lok Sabha adjourned till 3.30 pm amidst protest during the discussion on Rafale jet deal
02:57 PM
I think they are thowing papper planes and remembering Euro fighters: Jaitley
02:56 PM
FM Arun Jaitley in Lok Sabha: There is a speciality about UPA in decision making that is if the aircraft being selected is not the one whose commerce you have dealt with then delay the transaction, make it impossible
02:55 PM
Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha: The Supreme Court verdict stated that probing Rafale scam does not come under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, but they never said that JPC shouldn't be formed

View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter
ANI
✔
@ANI
Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha: The Supreme Court verdict stated that probing Rafale scam does not come under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, but they never said that JPC shouldn't be formed.
181
2:50 PM - Jan 2, 2019
104 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
02:55 PM
In 2012 when it wen to Defence Minster, he approved Rafale but asked the process to be looked into: Jaitley
02:54 PM
View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter
ANI
✔
@ANI
Arun Jaitley in Lok Sabha: If the fingers point at you in AugustaWestland, National Herald and Bofors, then it is a bit too much. Today, they have the audacity to raise an allegation against us. #Rafale
777
2:52 PM - Jan 2, 2019
385 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
02:53 PM
Dassault and Eurofighter bids were opened and Rafale was accepted.
02:52 PM
Tenders for Rafale were invited in 2007: Jaitley
02:51 PM
Once is a chance, twice is a coincidence and thrice is a conspiracy, says Arun Jaitley
02:50 PM
The conspirators of various defence deals have the audacity to call us out: Jaitley
02:50 PM
From Bofors to Agusta to National Herald case, all fingers point towards Congress, says Arun Jaitley
02:49 PM
Jaitley cites AgustaWestland case. Calls out Congress for being corrupt
02:48 PM
Arun Jaitley in Lok Sabha: On the last occasion, he (Rahul Gandhi) manufactured a conversation between him and the former French President. Today, he repeats the same. Today, he tried to produce a tap but he is too scared to authenticate it.

02:47 PM
Since Rahul Gandhi has used abbreviations, was Rahul Gandhi playing in the lap of 'Q': Jaitley
02:47 PM
Rahul Gandhi lacks basic understanding of combat aircraft, says Arun Jaitley
02:46 PM
There are families in this country who understand the math of money but not of national defence: Jaitley
02:45 PM
The grand old party of Indian politics is headed by a person who doesn't have the basic understanding of what a combat aircraft is: Jaitley
02:44 PM
Goa Minister Vishwajit P Rane writes to Goa CM Manohar Parrikar in regard with the audio tape released by Congress on Rafale, states, "This is a doctored audio & I have never had any discussion on this subject with anyone. there should be a thorough inquiry in this matter"

View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter
ANI
✔
@ANI
Goa Minister Vishwajit P Rane writes to Goa CM Manohar Parrikar in regard with the audio tape released by Congress on Rafale, states, "This is a doctored audio & I have never had any discussion on this subject with anyone. there should be a thorough inquiry in this matter"
328
2:42 PM - Jan 2, 2019
180 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
02:43 PM
Today Rahul tried to produce a false document, which his party manufactured. Jaitley

02:42 PM
My learned friend has a legacy to lie: Jaitley

Govt seeks correction in SC Rafale verdict over mention of CAG report, PAC

The Centre on Saturday filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking correction in a paragraph in its judgement on Rafale fighter jet deal in which a reference has been made about the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report and Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
A law officer said that the application has been filed to convey to the court that there has been some misinterpretation on the issue of the documents placed in a sealed cover relating to the CAG and PAC.

ALSO READ: Rafale row: Govt gave wrong facts to SC, verdict not clean chit, says Cong
In the judgement on Friday, the apex court had noted that the pricing details have been shared with CAG, and the report of the CAG has been examined by the PAC.
The issue of CAG and PAC was mentioned in para 25 of the judgement of the top court which had held that there were no irregularities in the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France.
ALSO READ: Congress sabotaging country's security by opposing Rafale deal: Javadekar
The judgement had said that the material placed before it shows that the Centre did not disclose in Parliament the pricing details of the Rafale fighter jet, but revealed it to the Comptroller and Auditor General.
After the SC verdict on Friday, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who chairs the PAC, had said no such report had come to him.

SC to pronounce verdict on pleas seeking probe into Rafale deal on Friday

The Supreme Court is scheduled Friday to pronounce verdict on pleas seeking court-monitored probe into India's multi-billion dollar Rafale fighter jet deal with France.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas on November 14.

Advocate M L Sharma was the first petitioner in the case. Later, another lawyer Vineet Dhanda had moved the apex court with the plea for court-monitored probe into the deal.
AAP leader Sanjay Singh has also filed a petition against the fighter jet deal.
After the three petitions were filed, former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie along with activist advocate Prashant Bhushan had moved the apex court with a plea for a direction to the CBI to register FIR for alleged irregularities in the deal.
The Centre has defended the multi-billion deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets and opposed public disclosure of the pricing details.
India signed an agreement with France for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in a fly-away condition as part of the upgrading process of Indian Air Force equipment. The estimated cost of the deal is Rs 580 billion.
The Rafale fighter is a twin-engine Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation.

Rafale price can be discussed only if facts on deal can be made public: SC

The Supreme Court Wednesday said any discussion on pricing of the Rafale fighter jets can only take place if the facts on the deal are allowed to come in the public domain.
"The decision we need to take is whether to bring the fact on pricing in public domain or not," a bench headed by the Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said.

The bench, also comprising justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, told Attorney General K K Venugopal that without bringing the facts in public domain, there was no question of any debate on pricing.
However, the bench clarified to the attorney general that any discussion on price will be considered if it thinks that it should come in the public domain.
The top court also sought the assistance of any Air Force officer on the issue of procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France.
"We are dealing with requirements of the Air Force and would like to ask an Air Force officer on the Rafale jet. We want to hear from an Air force officer and not the official of the Defence Ministry on the issue," the bench said when Venugopal commenced his arguments on behalf of the Centre.
Venugopal told the bench that an Air Force officer would be reaching within a few minutes.
The attorney general in his arguments defended the secrecy clause related to the pricing of Rafale jets saying,"Our adversaries may get advantages if the entire details on the pricing is disclosed."
Refusing to divulge details on the pricing aspect, Venugopal said he would not be able to assist the court further on the pricing issue.

"I decided not to peruse it myself as in a case of any leak, my office would be held responsible," he said.
Venugopal said these matters are for the experts to deal and "we have been saying that even Parliament has not been told about the complete cost of jets".
He said at the exchange rate of November 2016, the cost of a bare fighter jet was 670 crore.
India signed an agreement with France for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in a fly-away condition as part of the upgrading process of the Indian Air Force equipment.
The estimated cost of the deal is Rs 58,000 crore.
The Rafale fighter is a twin-engine Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation.
Venugopal said the earlier jets were not to be loaded with requisite weapon system and the reservation of the government was due to the fact that it did not want to violate the clause of the Inter Government Agreement and the secrecy clause.

Amid Rafale heat, HAL says won't be offset partner to any aircraft maker

Amid a political slugfest over the Rafale fighter jet deal, state-run HAL's Chairman and Managing Director R Madhavan Wednesday said the aircraft manufacturing company is contending not to be an offset partner of any original equipment manufacturer.
But it would like to be a "total technology transfer partner" for production of aircraft, he said.
Madhavan's reply came when he was asked to clarify on one among many charges that defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) had been deprived of an offset contract from the Rafale deal.
"We are not contending to be an offset partner to any OEM, rather HAL would like to be a total technology transfer partner for production of aircraft," he told PTI here.
He also said HAL's basic focus was on manufacturing of aircraft, helicopters, associated accessories and their repair and overhaul, and not in garnering offset business.
Production of aircraft from transfer of technology is totally different from offsets, according to him.
Some portion of the offset business from various other programmes were being administered at the HAL, but it does not form a major business, Madhavan said.
"HAL will continue to get these offset business," he added.
The Congress recently accused the government of forcing Dassault Aviation to make Reliance Defence its offset partner for the Rs 58,000 crore deal to purchase 36 Rafale jets.
It alleged that the government was helping the Anil Ambani group get a contract worth Rs 30,000 crore from the deal.
However, the Reliance Group, in a statement, has said Dassault Aviation's investment in Reliance Airport Developers Limited has no link with the Rafale fighter jet deal, and has accused the Congress of resorting to "blatant lies" for political gains.
Reliance has also said the Indian government, the French government, Dassault and Reliance have clarified on multiple occasions that there was no offset contract for Rs 30,000 crore to Reliance as alleged by the Congress.
Earlier, in an interaction with the media on November 2, Madhavan had said that the HAL was completely out of the Rafale deal, but at one point of time, it was part of it, which did not kick-off.
"We are not in that (Rafale) business now. We were in it at one point of time. It is a direct purchase by the government and (I) cannot make any comments on pricing and policy changes," he had said.
Escalating his campaign against the Modi government over the Rafale deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi last month accused it of destroying the "strategic asset", state-run aerospace company HAL, and told its employees that "Rafale is your right."
In an interaction, Gandhi had sought to reach out to present and former HAL employees, alleging that "temples of modern India are being attacked and destroyed; we cannot allow it to be done."

The Congress has also been demanding answers on why the HAL was not involved in the deal as finalised during the UPA regime.
However, the BJP and Reliance Defence have dismissed all the allegations as false.

Modi, Ambani jointly carried out surgical strike on defence forces: Rahul

Upping the ante on the Rafale issue, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Saturday alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Anil Ambani jointly carried out a "surgical strike" on the defence forces.
His renewed attack on Modi came a day after a French media report quoted former French president Francois Hollande as purportedly saying that the Indian government proposed Ambani's Reliance Defence as the partner for Dassault Aviation in the Rs 580 million Rafale jet fighter deal and France did not have a choice.

"The PM and Anil Ambani jointly carried out ... SURGICAL STRIKE on the Indian Defence forces. Modi Ji you dishonoured the blood of our martyred soldiers. Shame on you. You betrayed India's soul (sic)," Gandhi tweeted.
Modi had announced the procurement of a batch of 36 Rafale jets after holding talks with then French President Hollande on April 10, 2015 in Paris.
The opposition party has been accusing the government of choosing Reliance Defence over state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd to benefit the private firm though it did not have any experience in the aerospace sector.

Rafale row: France, Dassault contradict Hollande on Anil Ambani issue

The French government and Dassault Aviation have contradicted former President Francois Hollande's claim in choosing Indian industrial partners in the multi-million dollar Rafale jet deal.
The statement by the French government issued here late Friday comes after Hollande claimed that the Indian government suggested a particular private firm for Rafale offset contract.

Hollande was quoted in an article by a French website as claiming that the Indian government had asked the French government to nominate Reliance Defence as its India partner in the deal.
"We did not have a say in this," Hollande was quoted by the website as saying. "The Indian government proposed this service group and Dassault negotiated with Ambani."
In response to the claim, the Friday night statement said: "The French government is in no manner involved in the choice of Indian industrial partners who have been, are being or will be selected by French companies.
"In accordance with India's acquisition procedure, French companies have the full freedom to choose their Indian partner companies that they consider to be the most relevant, then present for the Indian government's approval the offset projects that they wish to execute in India with these local partners so as to fulfil their obligations in this regard."
ALSO READ: PM Modi has betrayed India: Rahul after Hollande's remark on Rafale deal
Dassault Aviation, the makers of the Rafale jets, in a statement also on Friday night, said: "This offsets contract is delivered in compliance with the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016 regulations. In this framework, and in accordance with the policy of 'Make in India', Dassault Aviation has decided to make a partnership with India's Reliance Group. This is Dassault Aviation's choice."
The Paris-based company said that the partnership between the two giants led to the creation of the "Dassault Reliance Aerospace Ltd (DRAL) joint-venture in February 2017.
"Dassault aviation is very proud that the Indian authorities have selected the Rafale fighter," it added.
The deal to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets from France was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 and signed in 2016.
The UPA government was earlier negotiating a deal to procure 126 Rafale jets, with 18 to come in flyaway condition and 108 to be manufactured by HAL under licence.
The Modi government has repeatedly said it was Dassault that chose its India partner for offsets and that the government had no say in the deal.