France today sought to downplay the trouble being witnessed in negotiations on the multi-billion dollar Rafale fighter jet deal, claiming everything is going the "normal path".
French sources said the dialogue continues with India over the issue. "Everything is at its normal path," they said.
The remarks came a day ahead of the visit of French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius here.
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The sources said he will not be raising the issue of the much-delayed Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) issue during his three-day visit.
"Clearly the defence procurement is not part of the agenda of this visit," they said.
The negotiations have got into trouble recently, leading to delay in finalisation of the contract for supply of 126 fighter planes.
India, which wants strict compliance with the terms of the Request for Proposal (RFP), has made it clear that the ball is in France's court on the signing of the contract.
India is insisting that Dassault Aviation, which manufactures Rafale, cannot renege on the Request for Proposal (RFP) clauses, which it had initially agreed to.
India says France must stick to the price that it had quoted in the RFP and guarantee clause under which Dassault has to stand guarantee for the planes that would be manufactured by state-owned HAL.