New Delhi: In a big allegation against the Union government, Congress national spokesperson Pawan Khera on Wednesday said the Modi government has dealt to buy Predator drones from General Atomics at a price 4 times higher than the other countries paid. 

Alleging that, the Congress leader said PM Modi signed Rafel’s like deal to buy the drones at the rate of Rs 880 crore per drone, ‘which means India would pay 25 thousand crore rupees for 31 drones.’ 

Addressing a press conference at party headquarters in Delhi, Pawan Khera accused Prime Minister of signing the deal without having a cabinet meeting on the same.

“PM Modi again indulged in his costly hobby without meeting the CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security). You ask Nadda Ji what is going on in the country. And when you are giving India’s money to foreign countries, then you don’t even know for how much the whole world is buying this drone?,” said Pawan Khera. 

The Congress spokesperson alleged that the Centre first gave 1786 crore rupees to DRDO for ‘Rustom’ and ‘Ghatak’ drone development, then it signed a deal worth 25 thousand crores to America as well.

While these drones of America are of outdated technology and will be available without the transfer of technology. That means you are buying junk at an expensive price instead of cheap, Khera said further. 

US, Britain, Germany bought it cheap

Meanwhile, in a press release, Congress alleged that several countries have brought these MQ-9B Predator Drones or very similar variants at a lower price than India. 

US Air Force bought MQ-9 drone (superior quality version) at US$ 56.5 million per drone, UK Air Force bought MQ-9B drone at US$ 12.5 million per MQ-9B drone in 2016, said the press release 

Spain, Taiwan, Italy, Netherlands, and Germany also bought it at a low price, But, Modi Govt is making India pay US$110 million per drone – the most expensive buy for any country, alleged Congress.

Congress asks 5 questions

Taking a dig at PM Modi, Khera said, “We all are aware of expensive hobbies of Prime Minister like costly clothes, cars, jets, spects etc. But, now these big-budget hobbies are casting nation. 

At the end of the briefing, Pawan Khera asked five questions to the Central government. 

Questions

1. Why was there no meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to clear the drone deal?

2. Why is India paying more for drones than other countries?

3. When the Air Force had objections to the skyrocketing prices of these drones, what was the hurry to strike a deal? While the Air Force demanded only 18 drones and they are being given 31 drones.

3.What happened to Make in India and self-reliant India in the defense sector?

4.  Why have we agreed on only 8-9% technology transfer?

5. What is the relationship of the CEO of General Atomics with the current rulers and influential personalities?

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