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At HAL helicopter factory inauguration, PM targets Congress over Rafale allegations | India News
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday raised Rafale deal controversy, stating that disinformation was spread and false accusations were made by the opposition against the BJP government using Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) name.
“Conspiracy has been hatched to incite people. Many hours of Congressional work were wasted because of it (the Rafale deal). But lies must accept defeat before the truth,” Prime Minister Modi said, without naming Conferenceafter the inauguration of HAL’s helicopter factory, which is touted as the largest in India.
“It is the same Hindustan Aviation Company Limited, which is being used as a pretext to bring charges against our government, which is promoting self-reliance in defense field. Today, HAL’s helicopter factory exposed the lies and misinformation spread about it,” Prime Minister Modi said after the inauguration ceremony at Bidarehalla kaval in Gubbi Taluk, Tumakuru district.
During 2017-18, Parliament attacked the Modi government over the deal to buy Rafale fighter jets worth Rs 58,000 on allegations of corruption and bias.
Former Parliament Speaker Rahul Gandhi accused the Narendra Modi government of “stealing” the Rafale offsetting contract from HAL and “donating” it to Anil Ambani’s company.
Modi reiterated that he laid the foundation stone of the HAL helicopter factory in 2016, which was inaugurated on the same day, with the determination to reduce India’s defense imports.
“We must reduce our dependence on foreign countries for our defense needs. Currently, hundreds of defense equipment are made in India. Invest in the aerospace sector for eight to nine years. over five times higher than in the 15-year period prior to 2014 ,” he pointed out.
Officials say HAL has the capacity to manufacture more than 1,000 helicopters between 3-15 tons, with total sales of more than Rs 40,000 over a 20-year period, at the facility spread over 615 acres of land. .
The plant will initially produce Light Helicopters.
defense Minister Rajnath SinghMinister Karnataka Basavaraj Bommai and senior officials from the Ministry of Defense were among those present on the occasion.
“Conspiracy has been hatched to incite people. Many hours of Congressional work were wasted because of it (the Rafale deal). But lies must accept defeat before the truth,” Prime Minister Modi said, without naming Conferenceafter the inauguration of HAL’s helicopter factory, which is touted as the largest in India.
“It is the same Hindustan Aviation Company Limited, which is being used as a pretext to bring charges against our government, which is promoting self-reliance in defense field. Today, HAL’s helicopter factory exposed the lies and misinformation spread about it,” Prime Minister Modi said after the inauguration ceremony at Bidarehalla kaval in Gubbi Taluk, Tumakuru district.
During 2017-18, Parliament attacked the Modi government over the deal to buy Rafale fighter jets worth Rs 58,000 on allegations of corruption and bias.
Former Parliament Speaker Rahul Gandhi accused the Narendra Modi government of “stealing” the Rafale offsetting contract from HAL and “donating” it to Anil Ambani’s company.
Modi reiterated that he laid the foundation stone of the HAL helicopter factory in 2016, which was inaugurated on the same day, with the determination to reduce India’s defense imports.
“We must reduce our dependence on foreign countries for our defense needs. Currently, hundreds of defense equipment are made in India. Invest in the aerospace sector for eight to nine years. over five times higher than in the 15-year period prior to 2014 ,” he pointed out.
Officials say HAL has the capacity to manufacture more than 1,000 helicopters between 3-15 tons, with total sales of more than Rs 40,000 over a 20-year period, at the facility spread over 615 acres of land. .
The plant will initially produce Light Helicopters.
defense Minister Rajnath SinghMinister Karnataka Basavaraj Bommai and senior officials from the Ministry of Defense were among those present on the occasion.
