Why govt bought only 36 Rafale jets\, asks Chidambaram

Why Modi govt bought only 36 Rafale jets instead of 126, asks P Chidambaram

The government has compromised national security, said P Chidambaram

Press Trust of India  |  New Delhi 

P Chidambaram
Congress leader P Chidambaram.

Senior leader P on Friday accused the government of compromising security and asked why it bought only 36 instead of 126 required by the Air Force.

His comments come in the wake of fresh revelations on the in a media report which claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to but 36 aircraft instead of the 126 asked for by the Air Force pushed the price of each jet up by 41.42 per cent.

"In the light of new facts and revelations in THE HINDU, the question gains greater urgency: why did the government buy only 36 Rafale aircraft instead of 126 aircraft required by the Air Force?," asked in a tweet.

"The Government has compromised security by denying to the Air Force the 7 squadrons (126 aircraft) that it desperately needs," he said.

leader Jyotiraditya Scindia also took to Twitter to demand answers from Modi on the increased cost of aircraft.

"The PM's unilateral decision to buy resulted in a price escalation of 41.42% per jet. When will the prime minister answer? he asked.

Read our full coverage on Rafale deal
First Published: Fri, January 18 2019. 10:45 IST