PARIS: In the midst of an enormous controversy over the Rafale deal, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday held wide-ranging talks together with her French counterpart Florence Parly on ways to deepen strategic and defence cooperation between the two countries.
The talks had been held beneath the framework of the annual Indo-French defence ministerial discussion which was once agreed to throughout the summit assembly between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in March.
Official assets mentioned the two defence ministers held a one-on-one assembly followed by delegation degree talks, masking a range of bilateral, regional and world problems with mutual interests.
They mentioned both sides deliberated on co-production of military platforms and guns by the two countries but even so increasing cooperation between their armed forces, particularly in the maritime area.
It was once not straight away recognized whether or not the Rafale deal figured in the talks or not.
Sitharaman's seek advice from to France got here in the backdrop of an enormous controversy over the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from French aerospace primary Dassault Aviation.
In a report Wednesday, French newsletter Mediapart mentioned Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of Rafale, had to choose Ambani's firm Reliance Defence as its offsets partner in India as a trade-off for getting the deal.
When asked in regards to the allegations, Sitharaman mentioned that offset tasks for the deal are necessary however not the names of the companies.
The newest report followed former French President Francois Hollande's comments closing month that France was once given "no choice" on number of the Indian partner for Dassault and the Indian executive proposed the title of the Indian company. Hollande was once French president when the Rafale deal was once sealed.
Officials mentioned Sitharaman will seek advice from a Rafale production facility near Paris on Friday to take stock of development in their manufacturing.
Earlier this 12 months, France was once pitching for beginning negotiations for procurement of some other batch of 36 Rafale jets by India. However, New Delhi was once not concerned with pursuing it.
In April, the Indian Air Force started the method to procure a fleet of 114 fighter jets and Dassault Aviation has emerged as one of the key contenders for the contract.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the procurement of a batch of 36 Rafale jets after talks with the then French President Hollande on April 10, 2015 in Paris. The ultimate deal was once sealed on September 23, 2016.
The Congress has been alleging massive irregularities in the deal, announcing the federal government was once purchasing every plane at a cost of over Rs 1,670 crore as towards Rs 526 crore finalised by the UPA executive when it was once negotiating the deal.
The Congress has additionally been focused on the federal government over number of Reliance Defence as an offset partner for Dassault.
The executive has vehemently rejected the allegations and asserted that it did not have any position in the number of Reliance Defence.
The talks had been held beneath the framework of the annual Indo-French defence ministerial discussion which was once agreed to throughout the summit assembly between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron in March.
Official assets mentioned the two defence ministers held a one-on-one assembly followed by delegation degree talks, masking a range of bilateral, regional and world problems with mutual interests.
They mentioned both sides deliberated on co-production of military platforms and guns by the two countries but even so increasing cooperation between their armed forces, particularly in the maritime area.
It was once not straight away recognized whether or not the Rafale deal figured in the talks or not.
Sitharaman's seek advice from to France got here in the backdrop of an enormous controversy over the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from French aerospace primary Dassault Aviation.
In a report Wednesday, French newsletter Mediapart mentioned Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of Rafale, had to choose Ambani's firm Reliance Defence as its offsets partner in India as a trade-off for getting the deal.
When asked in regards to the allegations, Sitharaman mentioned that offset tasks for the deal are necessary however not the names of the companies.
The newest report followed former French President Francois Hollande's comments closing month that France was once given "no choice" on number of the Indian partner for Dassault and the Indian executive proposed the title of the Indian company. Hollande was once French president when the Rafale deal was once sealed.
Officials mentioned Sitharaman will seek advice from a Rafale production facility near Paris on Friday to take stock of development in their manufacturing.
Earlier this 12 months, France was once pitching for beginning negotiations for procurement of some other batch of 36 Rafale jets by India. However, New Delhi was once not concerned with pursuing it.
In April, the Indian Air Force started the method to procure a fleet of 114 fighter jets and Dassault Aviation has emerged as one of the key contenders for the contract.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the procurement of a batch of 36 Rafale jets after talks with the then French President Hollande on April 10, 2015 in Paris. The ultimate deal was once sealed on September 23, 2016.
The Congress has been alleging massive irregularities in the deal, announcing the federal government was once purchasing every plane at a cost of over Rs 1,670 crore as towards Rs 526 crore finalised by the UPA executive when it was once negotiating the deal.
The Congress has additionally been focused on the federal government over number of Reliance Defence as an offset partner for Dassault.
The executive has vehemently rejected the allegations and asserted that it did not have any position in the number of Reliance Defence.
Nirmala Sitharaman holds talks with French defence minister Florence Parly
![Nirmala Sitharaman holds talks with French defence minister Florence Parly]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
October 12, 2018
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