Francois Hollande’s claim over Rafale deal can affect ties, France fears

The French government on Sunday said that it feared damage to its relation with India following former president Francois Hollande’s revelation over Rafale fighter jet deal. Hollande’s revelation has triggered a massive controversy around the country and began a war of words between the ruling party and opposition parties.

Hollande reportedly left office in 2017, said French manufacturer Dassault Aviation had not given a choice to select its local partner in a 2016 deal with India. But, Narendra Modi government had agreed to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault, announcing it was partnering with Anil Ambani for the project rather than public defence conglomerate HAL.

In a video which is doing rounds on social media saying, Dassault did not have a say in it added fuel to claims from opposition parties. They alleged that ruling party had intervened to help billionaire Anil Ambani.

“I find these remarks made overseas, which concern important international relations between France and India, do not help anyone and above all do not help France,” junior foreign minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne quoted as saying to AFP on Sunday about Mr Hollande.

Also read: Rafale deal: French President François Hollande contradicts Defence Ministry claims

“Because one, who is no longer in office, causing damage to a strategic partnership between India and France by making remarks that clearly cause controversy in India is really not appropriate,” he said in an interview on Radio J.

The choice of Reliance for a highly strategic contract to upgrade India’s ageing fleet of fighter jets had caused a surprise at the time because the group had no previous experience in the aeronautics industry.

Congress president does not seem to forgive NDA government over Rafale deal and has been constantly targeting Narendra Modi led government. He also said, PM Modi and Anil Ambani jointly carried out a surgical strike on the Indian defence force, and said Modi betrayed India’s soul.   

While addressing a press conference in Delhi Rahul Gandhi has said, “An ex-president of France is calling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a thief. It’s a question of the dignity of the office of the prime minister.”

Also read: Rahul Gandhi attacks PM Modi says ‘Rafale a Rs 1.3 Lakh cr surgical strike on Defence forces’