Opposition Demand To Share Rafale Details Makes No Sense, No One Doubts PM Modi’s Intentions: Sharad Pawar

Sharad Pawar, chief of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), in an interview to a Marathi news channel said that people “do not have doubts” over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intentions on the Rafale fighter jet issue.

Congress party and its President Rahul Gandhi has been going hammer and tongs on ruling BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over an alleged scam in Rafale fighter jet deal.

Pawar, who earlier held the portfolio of Defence ministry, has said that the demand of the opposition to share technical details of the Rafale fighter jets and other embedded technologies in it “made no sense”.

Pawar said that government of India, however, should disclose the prices of aircraft as there is no harm in disclosing the price of the aircraft.

"I don't think people have doubts about Modi's intentions personally," Pawar told the news channel.

He, however, was critical of the representation of the government’s side by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman which, according to him, created confusions in the people’s mind.

"Now, (Union Finance Minister Arun) Jaitley can be seen articulating (government's stand) on the issue (instead of Sitharaman)," Pawar said.

Congress has alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has violated the rules while making the deal causing loss to the public exchequer and endangering national security by not pressing for offset contract to be given to the state-run Hindustan Aeronautical Limited and letting it go into the hands of some businessmen “friends”.