The Narendra Modi government has been accused of ignoring the HAL while negotiating the fresh agreement to buy Rafale fighter jets from France

Udaipur: As the Rafale fighter jet deal issue continues to be a point of contention between the Central government and the opposition parties, the chief of the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has said that the decision to procure 36 aircraft in flyaway condition was taken as they were needed quickly.

R Madhavan further asserted that his organisation had the capability to manufacture the Rafale aircraft.

“Hindustan Aeronautics Limited was capable when the talks were ongoing but to get quick delivery, the government bought 36 aircraft separately. If like earlier, 126 aircraft were to be made, some would have been made here and other would have been bought. Since now they have bought 36 aircraft, there’s no question of us making it. HAL is not involved; I’d not like to comment now,” Chairman Madhavan said.

The HAL chief’s remarks came as the Congress continues to allege the Narendra Modi government is procuring the fighter jets from France’s Dassault Aviation at higher cost than what was negotiated by the erstwhile UPA government. The deal being negotiated by the UPA was to purchase 126 aircraft.

The government has also been accused of ignoring the HAL while negotiating the fresh agreement. The opposition has said that like under the previous deal that was being negotiated, the HAL could have manufactured some of the aircraft through transfer of technology.

Defending the deal, the Modi government has said that it was wrong to compare the price a fully-loaded aircraft with that of a basic aircraft.