Amid Congress-BJP tug of war, Dassault Aviation welcomes SC verdict on Rafale deal

French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation has welcomed the decision of top court dismissing all the petitions filed against Rafale deal.

Dassault also stated that the company is fully dedicated towards establishing 'Make in India'. (Image: AFP)

Rafale deal: After both Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released their statements on Rafale Deal verdict issued by Supreme Court today, the French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation has welcomed the decision of top court dismissing all the petitions filed on the agreement. In an official statement, the company said, “Dassault Aviation welcomes the decision of the Supreme Court of India rendered today dismissing all petitions filed on the Rafale Contract signed on 23rd September 2016 in the frame of an Inter-Governmental Agreement between India and France.” Dassault also stated that the company is fully dedicated to supporting and establishing 'Make in India' initiative promoted by PM Narendra Modi. “Dassault Aviation is dedicated to establishing successfully Make in India as promoted by PM Modi. Dassault Aviation will ensure successful production in India through Dassault Reliance Joint Venture in Nagpur as well as through a full-fledged supply chain network,” news agency ANI quoted the official statement of the company. Even in the past, Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier has stressed on the fact that the deal is absolutely clean and in accordance with the Indian laws and regulations. Trappier had also reiterated that it was his company that had chosen businessman Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence to be one of its offset partners in the Rafale fighter jet deal and the Indian government had to call on it. “We chose Ambani by ourselves,” Trappier told ANI in an exclusive interview last month. “We already have 30 partners other than Reliance. The Indian Air Force is supporting the deal because they need the fighter jets for their own defence to be at the top,” he had said. As soon as Supreme Court on Friday gave clean chit to the Central government on the deal, Congress President Rahul Gandhi raised questions over the top court’s verdict. Gandhi once again launched stringent attack on PM Modi as said, ‘Chowkidar chor hai!’ [Watchman (PM Modi) is thief]. The Congress president also raised questions about the SC judgement referring to the Comptroller and Auditor General CAG) report on the pricing of the 36 Rafale jets to be purchased from France's Dassault.