BJP Leader Swamy opposes Rafale deal terming it as corrupt

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy today termed the Rafale fighter aircraft deal 'corrupt' and that it will bring bad reputation to the party.

The senior BJP leader threatened to go to court against the deal to buy Rafale fighter aircraft from France if the government does not heed to his warning. He said no one in the world is buying the Rafale planes and in the past countries which signed a MoU to procure the aircraft have scrapped the deal.

Dassault (Aviation- the company which manufactures the fighter jets) says if India does not buy these planes then they will wind up. Many counties like Switzerland signed a MoU, but later cancelled it. Swamy said if the government wanted to please France, then it should have bought the company which is anyway running into losses.

'These babus (bureaucrats) are giving wrong advice to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Defense Ministry is also opposed to the proposal, says Swamy who is known for his whistle blowing on critical defense issues.

Modi on Sunday said in Paris that India will buy 36 Rafale fighter jets in 'fly-away' condition from France at the earliest by 'keeping in view the critical operational necessity of fighter aircraft in India'.