Rupesh Samant
Panaji, May 3: A senior French Diplomat on Thursday said that the controversy over procurement of Rafale was an “Indian issue” but when India will use these combat aircrafts, they will realise what amazing technology it is.
“For us, we believe that the controversy over Rafale is an Indian issue. We have done all the process. We have gone through all the processes,” Sonia Barbry, Consul General of France in Mumbai said in an interview.
She said that Rafale is the best combat aircraft available in the market. “And we know, India has very specific need of such aircrafts,” Barbry added.
“France will deliver soon the first lot of aircrafts, it will be delivered in few months. Let India use them, they will see what amazing technology it is and then Indian government will be free to decide what they want to do,” she said.
The Consul General said that India would definitely require more such aircrafts.
The Rafale deal has run into controversy in India with opposition Congress party making it as a poll plank during ongoing Lok Sabha election to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Talking about relationship between India and France on Defence front during Narendra Modi-led government, Barbry said that the beauty of India and France relationship is that, we had strategic dialogues and partnership since 1998 and that relationship goes to defence cooperation, security intelligence, and it is beyond political shifts.
“In France we had right wing government in 1998 and then it shifted to left wing government, but there was no change. In India it was congress and then became NDA but we have seen no change in the commitment, and importance given to the relationship,” she added.
Barbry said that France worked “very well” with NDA. “But we are also confident that these defence interests are very crucial for India and also France. We are confident that whatever the government will be, these relationship are going to stay because this goes beyond political interests. It’s the interest of the country,” she commented.