‘Outcome Would Have Been Different If Wing Commander Abhinandan Had Rafale Instead Of MiG-21’: Ex-IAF Chief Dhanoa

Former Air Chief Marshall B S Dhanoa said at an event that had Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman been flying a Rafale instead of a MiG 21 the outcome would have been different, reports Asian News International.

As per reports he was referring to the politicisation of defence acquisition which leads to huge delays in the process, affecting the armed forces' capabilities.

B S Dhanoa was speaking at Techfest event organised by IIT Bombay and on being questioned regarding politicisation of defence acquisition he said, "I have always personally maintained that. When the Rafale thing was thrown up, if you politicise the defence acquisition system, the whole system goes behind."

He added, "All other files also start moving at a slow pace because people start becoming very very conscious." He also said that Bofors gun too got mixed up in controversy, despite it being a “good gun”.

As per New Indian Express report, Dhanoa said the outcome would have been different if Wing Commander Varthaman, who downed an enemy jet during a dogfight but was captured himself, was flying a Rafale instead of a MiG 21 fighter plane.

"100 per cent it would have been different. Why was he not flying a Rafale? Because you took 10 years to decide which aircraft to buy. So, it (the delay) affects you," he added.

Further, he revealed that the government of the time rejected the proposal to carry out airstrikes on Pakistan after 26/11 Mumbai attacks, which boosted the confidence of our neighbouring state that India will not retaliate to a terrorist attack.