Union Minister and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari gave an exclusive interview to Karan Thapar with Tiranga TV on Monday, 13 May.
Halfway through the interview, Thapar asked him about the government’s claims that in price terms, the deal that they had negotiated was better than the deal UPA negotiated. He further probed that if that was the case, then why the government did not buy all 126 jets.
In response to this specific question being asked on the Rafale deal, Gadkari responded:
“How can you advise me that you can take 100 planes? At least we need that much money to spend them, so it is depending upon the government’s financial position to purchase 36.”
He answered the question by talking about the “financial availability” of the government of India. He also added, “Anything, anywhere you purchase, you take first phase, second phase, third phase and then you increase. Suppose, after 36 planes, if there is an availability of new technology, new plane with a cheaper price, then we are free to purchase that, why we should purchase from Rafale?”
Thapar had spoken to him about various topics like the Balakot air strikes, the volatile situation in Kashmir, the majoritarian and intolerant society under PM Modi, etc.
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