Terming as “factually inaccurate” the article which was published on purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets under Inter-Governmental Agreement with France , the Government on Friday said the article "does not adduce any new arguments".
“The article is factually inaccurate. It does not adduce any new arguments. All the issues have been answered in detail by the government at various fora and most recently by the Raksha Mantri in an open debate in Parliament,” a defence spokesperson said.
The spokesperson also added that the deal for jets in 2016 achieved the objectives of better price, better delivery period and better terms compared to the earlier proposal.
On pricing details, the government said that details are of confidential nature and covered by the Indo-French security agreement of 2008 were shared with the Supreme Court in a sealed cover.
“The Supreme Court has gone through the details of pricing and commercial advantage. The apex court has not found anything adverse in the deal and has refused to order an investigation as sought by the Petitioners,” said the spokesperson.
'The CAG has been given access to all the files related to Rafale deal. It is best to await the report of an authoritative agency like the CAG,'the spokesperson said.
Stating that the India Specific Enhancements were part of the requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to achieve tactical superiority over adversaries, the government said that all these were part of the 2007 bid and continued to be part of the 2016 deal.
The cost of the India Specific Enhancements was on a fixed basis in the 2007 bid which was negotiated down in the 2016 deal.
'However, to compare the cost for the MMRCA contract which never materialized with the cost of the 36 aircrafts procured in 2016 is fallacious,'the spokespewrson said.
'The author while indicating the price of ISE as 1.4 Bn Euro in 2007 has failed to include the in-built escalation factor that would have worked between 2007 and 2015. Surprisingly, in the headline of the article, the author has compared the un-escalated price of 2007 with the price of 2016 without considering the escalation factors inherent in the price bid. Later, hidden deep in the article itself it is stated that the price is 14.2 per cent higher compared to the escalated price as probably this figure does not attract as much attention as a 41.4 per cent higher price. A negotiation, especially between two countries, is a comprehensive deal and by selectively picking certain aspects while ignoring others, creates doubts by vested interests on a matter of vital national security. This has been repeatedly pointed out by the Government and accepted by the Supreme Court,' the spokesperson said.
On issue of dissent within the Indian Negotiated Team (INT), the government said,' in the highest traditions of the Civil Service, all views are aired and recorded and a collegiate decision taken after considering such opinions. Decisions on the deal were taken after due process of inter-ministerial consultation.'
Terming as “factually inaccurate” the article which was published on purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets under Inter-Governmental Agreement with France , the Government on Friday said the article "does not adduce any new arguments".
“The article is factually inaccurate. It does not adduce any new arguments. All the issues have been answered in detail by the government at various fora and most recently by the Raksha Mantri in an open debate in Parliament,” a defence spokesperson said.
The spokesperson also added that the deal for jets in 2016 achieved the objectives of better price, better delivery period and better terms compared to the earlier proposal.
On pricing details, the government said that details are of confidential nature and covered by the Indo-French security agreement of 2008 were shared with the Supreme Court in a sealed cover.
“The Supreme Court has gone through the details of pricing and commercial advantage. The apex court has not found anything adverse in the deal and has refused to order an investigation as sought by the Petitioners,” said the spokesperson.
'The CAG has been given access to all the files related to Rafale deal. It is best to await the report of an authoritative agency like the CAG,'the spokesperson said.
Stating that the India Specific Enhancements were part of the requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to achieve tactical superiority over adversaries, the government said that all these were part of the 2007 bid and continued to be part of the 2016 deal.
The cost of the India Specific Enhancements was on a fixed basis in the 2007 bid which was negotiated down in the 2016 deal.
'However, to compare the cost for the MMRCA contract which never materialized with the cost of the 36 aircrafts procured in 2016 is fallacious,'the spokespewrson said.
'The author while indicating the price of ISE as 1.4 Bn Euro in 2007 has failed to include the in-built escalation factor that would have worked between 2007 and 2015. Surprisingly, in the headline of the article, the author has compared the un-escalated price of 2007 with the price of 2016 without considering the escalation factors inherent in the price bid. Later, hidden deep in the article itself it is stated that the price is 14.2 per cent higher compared to the escalated price as probably this figure does not attract as much attention as a 41.4 per cent higher price. A negotiation, especially between two countries, is a comprehensive deal and by selectively picking certain aspects while ignoring others, creates doubts by vested interests on a matter of vital national security. This has been repeatedly pointed out by the Government and accepted by the Supreme Court,' the spokesperson said.
On issue of dissent within the Indian Negotiated Team (INT), the government said,' in the highest traditions of the Civil Service, all views are aired and recorded and a collegiate decision taken after considering such opinions. Decisions on the deal were taken after due process of inter-ministerial consultation.'
