Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday that former French president Francois Hollande's claims on the Rafale deal has come at a time when he himself had been facing allegations that his associate had received “some funds for some purpose”.
Speaking to reporters at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai, she said:
“...here was the former president of France who himself is facing an allegation of his associate having received some funds for some purpose. The allegation may be true or may not be true. But in such a situation, the former president saying this...”Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister of Defence
On 21 September, a French media report quoted Hollande as saying that the Indian government proposed Reliance Defence as partner for Dassault Aviation in the Rs 58,000-crore Rafale jet fighter deal and France did not have a choice.
Sitharaman Attacks Rahul Gandhi for Tweet
Sitharaman also took a swipe at Congress President Rahul Gandhi's tweet on 30 August, saying that Gandhi seemed to be predicting Hollande's actions well in advance. “It is very interesting," she said.
Answering a question on the much-delayed S-400 deal with Russia, Sitharaman said the deal was almost at a stage where it could be finalised.
Commenting on the 'surgical strike' across the border, the second anniversary of which is being observed today, Sitharaman said that it has deterred intrusions. She said, “I would believe that action of this kind would deter Pakistan in training and sending terrorists.”
On reports that a Defence Ministry official had raised objections to the Rafale deal on-record before it was signed in 2016, Sitharaman said various committees hold discussions for every procurement.
“During talks every opinion is recorded, differential opinions are also recorded. But after that, when the decision has to be taken, all of them have to come on the same page and take a call.”Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister of Defence
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