Rafale debate highlights: Sitharaman ran away from my questions, says Rahul

A heated debate on the Rafale deal between Congress and BJP took place in the Lok Sabha. Catch Parliament winter session LIVE updates

2:56 PM

Timely purchase of equipment should be priority, says Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in reply to debate on Rafale deal in LS.

2:55 PM

2:54 PM

Defence Minister: Emergency purchases are always two squadrons. In 1982, when Pak was buying F-16s, Indian gvt then decided to buy 2 squadrons of MIG-23 MF from erstwhile Soviet Union, in '85 again 2 squadrons of Mirage 2000 bought from France & in '87- 2 squadrons of MIG-29.

2:54 PM

Congress misleading nation; 126 aircraft not reduced to 36, their 18 flyaway condition procurement is scaled up to 36

 

This was an emergency purchase but the Congress government is misleading the nation even on that. They are saying that the aircrafts have come down from 126 to 36 but they should compare these 36 with the initial 18 flyaway aircraft they were planning to buy. The remaining 108 were out of question because HAL could not reach an agreement to manufacture them in the first place.

2:53 PM

You stopped the deal, forgetting airforce was suffering, because it didn't suit you. The deal didn't get you money: Sitharaman to Congress

2:51 PM

Dassault aviation could not tie up with HAL to produce 108 aircraft, says Sitharaman

 

Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Congress party is shedding crocodile tear over Rafale production not going to HAL. However, the truth is that HAL could not reach an agreement with Dassault over multiple issues, and Congress failed to facilitate an agreement, she said. 

 

She claimed that the main problem was that Dassault was not ready to take guarantee for the aircrafts manufactured in India. This would have left the consumer, IAF without any manufacturer's guarantee.

2:51 PM

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha on Rafale deal:

 

"The Congress did not intend buying the jets . For every 'AA' there is a 'Q' and 'RV'."

 

"There was no agreement between Dassault and HAL. Dassault was told that HAL will need 2.7 more man hours for the same Rafale jet than to produce one in France. Dassault also told they will not stand guarantee for the jets produced in India. Therefore, the deal with HAL was not struck."

2:49 PM

Defence Minister during debate on Rafale jet deal in Lok Sabha: Congress is shedding crocodile tears for HAL. Congress govt gave 53 waivers to HAL. We have given contracts worth Rs 1 lakh crore.

2:46 PM

Don't shed crocodile tears for HAL: Sitharaman to Congress

2:44 PM

Defence Minister in Lok Sabha: I want to say to Kharge ji, who is member of Standing Committee that looked into various issues related to Defence production, in a report stated "Standing Committee is disappointed to know that even after three decades HAL hasn't been able to develop the required aircraft."

2:43 PM

Defence Minister in Lok Sabha: When Rahul Gandhi held a meeting near HAL Bengaluru, he said, "Rafale is your right. You should have produced it."

2:43 PM

IAF procurement weakest under UPA, said Sitharaman.

2:41 PM

33 Rafale jets will be here by 2022, said Sitharaman.

2:38 PM

HAL and Dassault never struck a deal, says Sitharaman.

2:36 PM

Congress couldn't finish negotiations in 10 yrs; BJP will get first Rafale by 2019, all 36 by 2022, says Sitharaman

 

"The first aircraft will be delivered in September 2019 and 36 aircraft will be delivered in the year 2022. The process of negotiation was finished in 14 months," Sitharaman argued.