Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has come out strongly in defence of the Rafale fighter jet deal with France signed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In an interview with IBN7, Parrikar said that deal has been signed for 36 Rafale fighters which is good for the country as defence purchases were lagging behind for the last many years.
When asked about the remaining 90 Rafale fighters as the earlier Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal was for 126 planes, Parrikar said that Rafale is a costly fighter plane and for 126 planes the total deal will be of Rs 90,000 crore. As far as Make In India is concerned, both the governments will discuss when the deal is finalised, Parrikar said.
Parrikar also went on to clarify that both the countries have principally agreed for 36 planes, but the final decision regarding how many planes India will build indigenously will be decided later when both India and France will discuss and finalise the finer points of the deal. Parrikar also pointed out that Rafale was not going to replace MiG-21. Instead the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas would take MiG-21's place, he added.
The Defence Minister brushed aside the opposition allegation that concerns of CAG and other agencies were not take care off. He said that even during the Congress rule, the government to government level deals were signed. There is no point raising objections like this, Parrikar said.
Parrikar also took a dig at Congress leader Digvijaya Singh saying that he should eat fish as protein rich fish ensures that brain functions properly. He was reacting to Singh's tweet that while the PM was signing the Rafale deal, the Defence Minister was buying fish. Parrikar said that he was in Goa on some official engagement.
Parrikar didn't stop here. On BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's threat to move the court against Rafale deal, Parrikar said that he has know Swamy since 1978 and he will soon call him to discuss this deal with him. Parrikar said that he was confident that he will convince Swamy. In a lighter vein, he said, as a student of IIT Mumbai, he worker for Swamy when he contested for the first time from Mumbai and ensured his victory.
Parrikar also appeared concerned over the functioning of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Parrikar said DRDO appears as a small oasis in entire system. But coordination and synergy between DRDO and industry is not good, Parrikar said and added that he had plans to improve this.
The Defence Minister made it clear that he doesn't want to indulge in mud slinging, but the country has lagged far behind in last 10 years in the defence sector. There is atmosphere of trust has been lost in last 10 years, he said.
Parrikar also said that he was hopeful that one rank one pension will become a rule by the end of Parliament's Budget Session itself. "There was some interim court order and that delayed the process, but I am hopeful that we will fulfil our promise by the end of one year of our government," he said.
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