Another controversy has erupted over the Rafale deal after some reports claimed that on Monday France had ordered 28 jets at half the cost compared to what India had paid.
The Indian government is buying 36 Rafale fighters at Rs 59,000 crores.
To the acute discomfiture of the Government, reports emerged on Tuesday that the French Government had signed an agreement with Dassault, manufacturers of the Rafale fighter planes, for 28 Rafale planes at the cost of 2.3 billion Euros, reported National Herald.
However, the French government has refuted the reports. It stressed that the 2 billion Euro figure being mentioned for the purchase of the 28 fighters was in fact meant for development of the new F4 variant of the Rafale.
“France did not announce yesterday any new aircraft acquisition order! The amount you’re referring to will finance solely the development of the new F4 standard for the Rafale. The 28 aircraft remaining to be delivered to the Air Force are part of previous acquisition contracts,” tweeted Alexandre Ziegler on Tuesday.
Before the Lok Sabha elections, Congress party is mounting pressure on the Centre over the Rafale deal. The main opposition party is alleging corruption in the deal.
