Procurement issue worries House panel members

Even as senior officials of the defence ministry and the army told parliamentarians Tatra trucks had served the forces well, members of the standing committee on defence have raised concern on the procurement process of the vehicles. They want the Union government to take action against commission agents, not just blacklist international arms manufacturing companies.

During the course of discussions on the performance of the Tatra trucks by the standing committee, the parliamentarians wanted to know if the Union government had taken any action against commission agents who had used unethical means to lure government servants.

“Some of the members are of the view that we should not blacklist companies because by doing so, we are blocking technology into our country. Instead, the government should take action against commission agents who try to influence arms deals, using unethical means. If the government blacklists companies, why not take similar action against commission agents, since they are responsible for the ground work on behalf of their companies?” said people privy to the development.

The meeting was attended by defence secretary Shashi Kant Sharma, vice-chief of the Army Lt Gen S K Singh and senior officials of BEML.

While defending the purchase of Tatra trucks and their performance in difficult terrains across the country, senior officials present in the meeting tried to convince the standing committee there was nothing wrong with the government’s decision to buy Tatra trucks since 1987.

“Senior defence officials told the members the trucks had performed well and added since the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was investigating the case, they would know if any wrong had happened,” said the sources. The CBI had initiated an investigation against Tatra after army chief Gen V K Singh had alleged a retired army officer who was working as the company’s agent had offered him a bribe of Rs 14 crore. Soon after the incident came to light, the defence ministry had ordered a CBI inquiry into the case.