NEW DELHI – Former Chief Minister and Senior Congress leader PrithvirajChavan Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement on Rafale wasan “insult” to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and its pilots.
Referring to Modi’s statement that the presence of Rafale fighter jetswould have given greater firepower to the IAF during the February 27 aerialengagement with Pakistan, Mr Chavan said the PM was politicising the issue.
The former Union minister said the PM’s statement indicates India lost the”dogfight” with Pakistan.
He cited a report in a leading US daily which talks about India”s “defeat”in the dogfight and raises questions about its “vintage” military.
Mr Chavan said the international media is also raising certain questionsabout the February 26 air strikes inside Pakistan, but the Centre is unableto come out with answers.
“The report in the international media and the prime minister’s statementat the `India Today Conclave” (on Rafale) is a confession that India faceddefeat in the (dog) fight with Pakistan.
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“The statement made by PM is condemnable as it was an insult of IAF and itspilots,” said Mr Chavan.Advertisement
He said the PM should stop politicising the issue and apologise for hisremarks.
The former Maharashtra chief minister said PM Modi, by making suchstatements, also implied that there was a delay in aircraft procurementduring the rule of Congress-led UPA.
