The Many Flaws Of The Rafale Deal

The government’s explanation for the modified Rafale deal is that the situation was critical. While that is true, the situation is no better even with the outright purchase of 36 aircraft.

- Pradip R. Sagar

Former defence minister Manohar Parrikar, who stayed back in Delhi when Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Paris and announced a new Rafale deal, is now in an unenviable position. Objections over the manner in which the prime minister’s office was interfering in the negotiations headed by Air Marshal S.B.P. Sinha had been brought to his notice, and he is on record having downplayed them.

The latest bombshell has been the revelation that several officials in the negotiating team had objected to the prime minister’s office conducting parallel negotiations which, in their view, weakened India’s bargaining power over the French. Deputy secretary (air) S.K. Sharma even wrote in his note that the defence minister may advise “the PMO that any officers, who are not part of the... negotiating team may refrain from having parallel parlays [sic] (parleys) with the officers of the French government”.

When the objections were brought to Parrikar’s notice, he termed them an “over-reaction”, and said that “the PMO and the French president’s office are monitoring the progress of the issue which was an outcome of the summit meeting”. Yet, he recorded that the defence secretary may resolve the issue in consultation with the principal secretary to the prime minister. Meanwhile, chief negotiator Sinha (retired in December 2018), has jumped to the government’s defence. He has alleged that the opposition has been using the ministry note selectively.