A media report claimed that Defense Ministry officials had raised concerns over the direct involvement of Prime Minister’s Office in the Rafale deal and further claimed that Government had dismissed.
According to the document accessed by ANI, the media report had given half picture of the full story as it did not highlight the file noting of the Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar who dismissed concerns raised by the officials of his ministry in the Rafale Aircraft negotiations saying that the fear was an “over reaction.” He called for further consultations to clarify any points.
The media report published on Friday claimed that the Defense Ministry officials had raised concerns over direct involvement of Prime Minister’s Office in Rafale Deal saying
“ parallel discussion by the PMO had weakened the negotiating position of MoD and Indian Negotiating Team.”
However Parikkar in the same file noted at the end:
“It appears PMO and French President Office are monitoring the progress of the issue which was an outcome of the summit meeting. Para 5 appears to be an overreaction” Parikkar further asked Defense Secretary G. Mohan Kumar to resolve the matter in consultation with Principal Secretary to Prime Minister.”
Congress President Rahul Gandhi attacked the government once again stating that all was not well going in the government during the Rafale Deal.
Earlier speaking to Loksabha Sitharaman said,
“Then Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar ji replied to that MoD note saying ‘remain calm, nothing to worry, everything is going alright.’ Now, what do you call the NAC led by Sonia Gandhi’s interference in earlier PMO? What was that?”