Indian Air Force, HAL’s interests ignored by UPA government, says Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

With the opposition clearly unwilling to back down on the Rafale fighter deal, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday hit out at the Congress that has alleged the NDA government changed the contract to favour an industrialist at the cost of state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, or HAL.

Sitharaman dismissed this charge, pointing that the fact was that the rules framed by the previous Congress-led coalition had allowed the foreign companies to enter into a deal with a private companies as well to satisfy offset clauses, and not necessarily a public sector firm.

“Do you say that your rule was wrong... It is your rule,” the minister said at a free-wheeling question-answer session at the Indian Women's Press Corps.