Apropos Ajai Shukla's column "'Make in India' on a guillotine" (Broadsword, April 14), the deal with Dassault in France for the Rafale fighters has disappointed many and made some suspicious. As the author has properly analysed, just by going ahead with the deal and belying the 'Make in India' campaign the government is going against its own ideology. Why was the action taken so urgently? Couldn't the Indian Air Force wait longer for its aircraft inductions? Are there any secret intelligence reports about India's neighbours and enemies strategising? Why were other companies, such as Eurofighter, not invited to bid for the new buying contract, which would have reduced the buying price?
These questions along with the alleged presence of Anil Ambani and other businessmen indicate to the probability of some serious action happening behind the veil, bringing back old fears. Probably, these are the first signs of the nuts and bolts loosening out of the 'Make in India' lion icon.
Karan Kumbhare, New Delhi
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