BJD Demands White Paper On Rafale Deal

New Delhi: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday slammed the Narendra Modi Government on the controversial Rafale deal and demanded a white paper, wondering as to why technology transfer was not included in it.

Joining the opposition Congress in raising doubts over the deal in the Lok Sabha, BJD MP Kailash Narayan Singh Deo said “There needs to be a closer look at the deal. People of India should know what went behind (the decision).”

As the Congress sought to corner the Centre on the issue in the Lok Sabha, party president Rahul Gandhi once again demanded a JPC probe into the purchase of the fighter jets, a demand strongly rejected by the treasury benches.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said there was no need for a JPC probe since the Supreme Court had given its ruling.

“Questions of probity and questions of procedure do exist. Questions arise on pricing. It is well known that Qatar has bought the same planes at much cheaper price,” Kailash said in Lok Sabha, adding that when there was lingering doubt about the deal, Parliamentarians cannot be expected to remain “mute spectators”.

“Under the UPA, technology was to be transferred. The government should come with a white paper on why it was not done,” he added.