Arms donors

The echo of India’s controversial Rs 10,000-crore Barak surface-to-air missile deal with Israel is being heard in faraway London. According to a leading London newspaper, “One of the Liberal Democrats’ most generous donors has been accused of accepting tens of millions of pounds in kickbacks from an arms deal between an Israeli company and the Indian Government …” The newspaper quotes Indian sources to say the payments were disguised as ‘business charges’ since India officially prohibits the use of middlemen in defence deals.