P Chidambaram called out finance minister Arun Jaitley’s claims of the Rafale deal signed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance government being cheaper than the deal signed by his United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
In a series of tweets on Saturday, December 15, the former finance minister queried his successor as to why, if the current deal was cheaper, the NDA government agreed to procure merely 36 Rafale jets? “FM maintains that in the Rafale deal negotiated by NDA the price of the aircraft was cheaper by 9 per cent or 20 per cent. If so, why did the government buy only 36 aircraft and not 126 aircraft?” asked Chidambaram.
FM maintains that in the Rafale deal negotiated by NDA the price of the aircraft was cheaper by 9% or 20%. If so, why did the government buy only 36 aircraft and not 126 aircraft?
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) December 15, 2018
Rafale is willing to sell 126 aircraft. According to FM price is cheaper. Then, why buy only 36 aircraft? Will someone please solve this mystery?
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) December 15, 2018
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Adding, “Rafale is willing to sell 126 aircraft. According to FM price is cheaper. Then, why buy only 36 aircraft? Will someone please solve this mystery?” Chidambaram, then, ended his tweets by emphasising that by reducing the number of jets, the government had compromised national security. “By buying only 36 aircraft when 126 aircraft are on offer, the government has gravely compromised national security,” criticised Chidambaram.
By buying only 36 aircraft when 126 aircraft are on offer, the government has gravely compromised national security.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) December 15, 2018
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