Parikkar has reason to exert extra caution in this project, the way IAF is vigorously lobbying for Rafael. Indian defence purchases have been a saga of kickbacks & commissions from the days of Bofors. Ours is a robust democracy where Govt. is accountable for every rupee of tax-payers' money spent.
Oh please, what a strawman argument. The defence procurement is now so clean that signing deals is secondary to keeping the politcians' names cleans. The IAF is pushing for the Raflae because after an EXHAUSTIVE 600 point technical analysis the Rafale was found to be the best product, this was a selection process that ALL parties agreed was fair, transparent and credible- even losing bidders. Think about that in an Indian context where even the procurement of tools is held up by allegations of wrong doing on the selection criteria but here India's most expensive procurement to date was considered as clean as could be.
Now tell me how kickback and corruption come into the picture in a GOVT-GOVT deal as this current deal is?
The GoI may be accountable for every ruppee but are they not accountable for national security? 10 EFFING YEARS it has been since this drama kicked off and in that time the IAF has been forced to keep flying 3rd generation 1950 designed MiG-21 and 27. The IAF is contracting every day but the polticans are playing their typical "not me, not me" games ie a dereliction of duty.
When all other avenues are exhausted (slandering the IAF, slandering Rafale, slandering Dassualt) one must resort to insinuations, is that right?
Pampering armed forces means you end up a tinpot democracy like Pak.
Let's not even bring Pakistan's civil-military relations into the Indian context, they honestly could not be more contrasting. The civilains are criminally negligent to the military's needs, let's not play silly games and pretend that in this case the civlians are pandering to the IAF, they are pursuing the Rafale as it is the best product for INDIA.
There's no need to slander the IAF simply because the PAID MEDIA has done a good job of tainting this deal despite ZERO evidence of any wrong doing at any level.
Is it so unreasonable for the IAF to ask for somewhat up to date equipment as their jets fall from the skies, the grandsons of former MiG-21 pilots fly the same aircraft and the threat enviroment continues to degrade.
What logic.
@Gessler