New Delhi, Sep 28: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said that the official, who disagreed
with the Rafael deal, had signed the note sent to the Cabinet on the basis of which the cabinet approved
the deal to buy 36 Rafale jets from France.
According to media reports, Joint Secretary and Procurement Manager Rajiv Verma, who was a member of
the committee that went into the Rafale deal with France, questioned Rafale’s benchmark price and had
submitted his disagreement in writing.
Later, the Director General, Procurement, had brushed aside the objection.
Ms Sitharaman said in a conversation with a television channel Thursday that views of the concerned officers
had been recorded on the deal and afterwards a collective decision was taken.
The official wrote his comment but the same letter was also signed on the note sent for the Cabinet’s
approval.
She termed as ‘misinformfation’ claims that the officer had been sent on leave. She said that the officer had to go
abroad for training as per schedule and he had gone abroad under the programme.
On a question regarding the Eurofighter aircraft being rejected despite being cheaper, the Defence Minister
said the Eurofighter was the second cheapest aircraft in the bid of this deal, but said the 20 per cent lower
price offered by the company was made after the completion of the tender process.
The Defence Minister said the Opposition has demanded that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)
look into the Rafale deal, then what CAG says will come out before everyone in its report.
