N. Ram - Defence Ministry protested against PMO undermining Rafale negotiations - The Hindu
At the height of the
negotiations over the controversial €7.87 billion
Rafale dealbetween India and France, the Defence Ministry raised strong
objections to “parallel negotiations” conducted by the Prime Minister’s Office
(PMO) with the French side. Stating that it was clear that such parallel
discussions by the PMO had “weakened the negotiating position of MoD and Indian
Negotiating Team,” a Defence Ministry note dated November 24, 2015 brought this
to the attention of the then Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar.
Stating that “we may
advise PMO that any Officers who are not part of Indian Negotiating Team may
refrain from having parallel parlays [parleys] with the officers of French
Government,” it suggested that “in case the PMO is not confident about the
outcome of negotiations being carried out by the MoD, a revised modality of
negotiations to be led by PMO at appropriate level may be adopted in the case.”
According to the government’s
submission to the Supreme Court of India in October 2018, the
negotiations over the Rafale deal were conducted by a seven-member team headed
by the Deputy Chief of Air Staff. There was no mention of any role for the PMO
in these negotiations... read more
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/defence-ministry-protested-against-pmo-undermining-rafale-negotiations/article26207281.ece