TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Alleging high violations of ceasefire during Narendra Modi-led government at LoC and China border, Congress on Saturday said that Prime Minister’s inept handling of the Defence apparatus is posing a serious national security concern for India.
“As admitted by Modi government, there have been 796 ceasefire violations along the LoC with Pakistan and China between June 2014-February 2015. Contrast this with 96 violations a year earlier,” All India Congress Committee Spokesman Tom Vadakkan told reporters in Goa Saturday evening.
“In fact, BSF Director General went on record to say that ceasefire violations were highest since the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war,” he added.
“This itself proves the performance of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar,” the Congress leader said.
Vadakkan said that India has lost the strategy on the national security. “It is unfortunate to say that today Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) has more flags of Pakistan flying then of India. The terrorist are allowed to flourish,” he commented.
Further, Congress alleged the non-transparency in the multi-crore Rafale deal, claiming that India does not have an inter-governmental agreement with France for government-to-government purchases.
“Prime Minister during his France visit announced government’s decision to buy 36 rafale fighter jets from Dassault in fly away condition. This decision is totally non-transparent. “Till date, even price of aircrafts has not been disclosed by Modi government. India does not have inter governmental agreement with France for Government-to-Government purchases. In absence of it, how can the establish process of following the defence procurement procedure be bypassed?” the Congress leader questioned.
Vadakkan said there is neither any clarity on pricing as yet nor any clarity on transfer of technology agreement entered into as part of this deal. The Congress party has questioned why Modi bypassed the Defence Acquisition Council while announcing a unilateral aircraft deal.
