Mysuru: “The Narendra Modi-led NDA Government at the Centre is lacking transparency in the multi-crore Rafale Aircraft deal causing huge loss to the public exchequer,” asserted former Union Minister M.M. Pallam Raju.

Addressing a press meet at a private hotel here on Sunday, Raju said that as per the international bid opened by the UPA Government  on Dec.12, 2012, the price of the Rafale Aircraft was Rs.526.1 crore and the plan was to acquire 126 Aircraft; 18 from the French company Dassault Aviation and 108 to be made in India at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facility under transfer of technology.

He further said that the Modi Government scrapped the deal ordering 36 Aircraft from the French company and added that the Government-owned HAL was bypassed and the offset contract worth Rs.30,000 crore was given to a private company Reliance Defence.

Continuing Raju said that the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister were reluctant to divulge the heavily inflated price of the 36 Rafale Aircraft. He recalled that UPA Government used to table all the defence purchase details before the Parliament.