Morale of HAL employees still high: HAL CMD

Amid the Rafale row, state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited CMD R Madhavan Friday said the morale of the company's employees is still high.

The Supreme Court recently asked the Centre to place before it in a sealed cover within 10 days the pricing details of 36 Rafale fighter jets India is buying from France.

Seeking clarity on Rafale deal, Madhavan said HAL was completely out of Rafale deal, but at one point of time, it was part of it, which did not kick-off.

"The morale of our employees is still high. As far as, our own unions are concerned, it has not given any statement on any issue surrounding Rafale deal. The statements have come from unions which have not been recognised," he told reporters here.

"We are not in that (Rafale) business now. We were in it at one point of time. It is a direct purchase by the government and (I) cannot make any comments on pricing and policy changes," he said.

Escalating his campaign against the Modi government over the Rafale deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi last month accused it of destroying the "strategic asset"state-run aerospace company HAL and told its employees that "Rafale is your right."
In an interaction, Gandhi sought to reach out to present and former HAL employees, alleging that "temples of modern India are being attacked and destroyed; we cannot allow it to be done."