Rafale selection: A gruelling process

The Rafale deal is indeed a great proposition. Delivery of these fighter jets must not get affected to settle political scores

The Rafale deal has all of a sudden come into focus with the Congress party alleging a scam in the unilateral announcement of a curtailed deal reducing the earlier figure of 126 aircraft to just 36, and paying a disproportionately higher price per piece of equipment. It is also alleged that the government did not follow rules and procedures. Refuting the allegations, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has countered that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had not finalised the price of the contract, so comparison of cost is imaginary. By actually purchasing the 36 aircraft in fly-away condition, there has