(Video) Rajya Sabha TV (RSTV) The Big Picture: Why the Politics on Rafale

Topic: Why the Politics on Rafale

Guest:

Nitin A. Gokhale, (Founder & Editor In Chief, BharatShakti.in)
Air Marshal (Retd. SBP Sinha, Former Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command)
Shekhar Iyer, (Senior Journalist)

Topic Description:

The Rafale fighter jet deal issue once again acquired centre stage on Friday after a report in english newspaper The Hindu claiming that in 2015 the ministry of Defence had objected to parallel negotiations conducted by the Prime Minister's Office with France for this deal.

The main opposition party raised this matter in the parliament demanding a JPC on the matter. As a result both houses of parliament witnessed disruptions and adjournment. Responding to allegations from the opposition , Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in the lower house all the questions related to the Rafale deal have already been answered by the govt . She also pointed out that the newspaper report does not mention the reply of the then Defence Minister to the defence secretary's comment .

The then Defence Secretary G Mohan Kumar whose comment on the Ministry of Defence note has been cited by the newspaper in its report has said the note had nothing to do with pricing of the Rafale deal and was about sovereign guarantees and general terms and conditions .