Question of transparency does exist on Rafale deal: BJD

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New Delhi: Expressing concern over the suffering of armed forces, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Wednesday criticised Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government over the Rafale deal and said questions of transparency, probity and procedure “exist in the deal.”
Speaking on behalf of the party in the Lok Sabha, BJD MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo said the deal deserves transparency and people of India should know what “went behind the deal.” He said there is no objection to urgent buying of the aircraft but questions regarding pricing still persist.
“Qatar has bought the same planes at much cheaper price. We have right to ask this question. There is no argument that Air Force needs the planes. We need many more planes but should we remain mute spectator to such a deal. Irrespective of modalities taken up by the government to acquire these planes, questions of transparency, questions of probity and questions of procedure do exist,” he said.
He criticised the Centre for lack of technology transfer in the deal and demanded an explanation from the government for the same. “The biggest loss to the country has been the lack of technology transfer. The government should tell us why the technology transfer did not happen. This would have been the biggest boon to the government in defence manufacturing sector. The Prime Minister in many of his speeches has said that he wants defence technology to be transferred to India,” he said, adding that the government should come up with a white paper as to why technology transfer was not done.
The BJD lawmaker further said that the questions remain on whether the correct process or procedure has been chosen or not.
The Bolangir MP also asked the government why Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) cannot be an offset partner in Rafale deal.
“If HAL can manufacture a fourth generation aircraft and Sukhoi 30, if it can manufacture Mig 21 and Mig 29 then what was the problem
if HAL would have manufactured the Rafale jets,” he questioned.