Opposition parties have demanded that the Congress and United Progressive Alliance government should tell the public how the medium-range surface-to-air missile deal with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) was awarded.
Initially, political leaders, even those in the opposition, were not too keen to comment on DNA’s special investigative story (March 25) which has also been published in Dainik Bhaskar editions. DNA showed how the Rs10,000 crore contract was awarded through an opaque process to IAI.
The issue may become an important element in the Left Front’s campaign against the UPA government in the coming election.
The Bharatiya Janata Party may also take up the matter much more strongly. BJP spokesperson and former cabinet minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “I am in favour of a better relationship with Israel. But this was a very important deal and it is equally important that the full facts of this deal are presented to the nation. What was the rush to award the deal just before the elections. The government could have waited for three months at least. It is important for us to know how this deal will affect the indigenous defence research programme.”
The government has poured in thousands of crores in developing an indigenous missile programme. Does the deal mean the programme is lost, he asked.
Other political parties are also likely to raise the issue. Sharad Yadav, president of the Janata Dal (United), said, “I want the government to reveal all major facts behind the deal. It is important for the people to know the pros and cons of the deal.”
Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Nilotpal Basu said, “The terms and conditions of the deal need to be made public. It is unfortunate, but the government’s relationship with the United States has led us to broaden our arms purchases with Israel.
Because of the importance we give to the US we have to adjust with Israel too. This has resulted in a strange anomaly. The Indian armed forces buy more equipment from Israeli companies than even the Israeli armed forces. We demand that the government make details of this deal public.”
A Congress spokesperson said he would comment on it by Thursday.
