Rafale deal done to benefit PM Modi's crony businessman: Sitaram Yechury

Sitaram Yechury

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Friday alleged that the deal for 36 Rafale jets with France by the Narendra Modi government was done for the benefit of his crony businessman.

Yechury's remarks come in the backdrop of a news report which claimed that the NDA's decision to buy 36 aircraft instead of the 126 asked for by the Indian Air Force pushed the price of each jet up by 41.42 per cent compared to what the previous UPA government had negotiated.

"Modi's sudden announcement in Paris, to buy only 36 Rafale jets, not 126 that the Air Force wanted, violated all procedure. But it also compromised India's national security and increased the price by 41%! That is why Modi has been running scared of sharing details," Yechury said in a tweet, citing the media report.

He said the CPI(M) had long demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the deal but the government had blocked all such efforts.

"No doubt that the deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets with France was done in a great hurry by Modi for the benefit of his crony businessman, at the cost of India's national security and at a heavy cost to the Indian exchequer. It is crystal clear now, and no amount of spin will help," the CPI(M) leader said.

"We have long demanded that only a JPC can examine the whole Rafale scam by going through all the official documents and calling requisite officials and ministers for examination. Modi govt wants to block it because of these facts which have emerged now," Yechury said.