Letter to BS: Rafale deal is proving to be an albatross around Modi's neck

The easing out of HAL made a mockery of oft-repeated 'Make in India' slogan by the Prime Minister

The Rafale deal is proving to be an albatross around Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s neck. In their joint media-briefing on the controversial deal in New Delhi last week, Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie — both former ministers in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government — and senior advocate Prashant Bhushan  have made certain startling revelations about the manner in which UPA’s earlier negotiation at an advanced stage for 126 Rafale fighter jets was suddenly changed by the PM by settling for only 36 fighters. This, they alleged, was in gross violation of mandatory procedures including bypassing the Cabinet Committee on Security. The