The Union government cannot disclose details of the Rafale deal as India and France had recently signed an agreement to protect classified information exchanged between the two sides, according to officials.
The government told Parliament this week that the two sides signed the agreement when French President Emmanuel Macron visited India on March 10.
“An agreement between India and France regarding the Exchange and Reciprocal Protection of Classified or Protected Information was signed on March 10, 2018 during the visit of President of France to India,” Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre told Lok Sabha.
This new treaty would replace an agreement of 2008 and is the reason why the government would not disclose details of the deal for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighters from France, officials point out.
Mr. Bhamre further said: “This agreement defines the common security regulations applicable to any exchange of classified and protected information between the two countries.” The Minister did not provide further specifics of the agreement.
The new pact is significant in the wake of the Opposition, especially the Congress, alleging a financial scandal in the purchase of the 36 Rafale fighter jets through a government-to-government deal, instead of the 126 fighter aircraft deal through competitive tendering that was under way.
Published - March 30, 2018 12:00 am IST
