Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan has once again taken aim at the Modi government, this time over the proposed purchase of Rafale fighter jets from France. Bhushan shared a years-old video interview of former French President François Hollande, using it to draw parallels with past controversies surrounding India’s defense deals.
Criticism Over New Rafale Contract
India is reportedly preparing to discuss the acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter jets, in a deal estimated to exceed ₹3 lakh crore. Sharing the video on social media platform X, Bhushan wrote:
“As the Modi government prepares a ₹3 lakh crore contract for Rafale jets, let us recall the 2015 deal worth ₹60,000 crore. Back then, 50% of the offset contract went to a newly formed Reliance Defence, owned by bankrupt Anil Ambani. Will Adani be chosen this time?”
Hollande Video Rekindles 2018 Controversy
The video Bhushan shared features François Hollande discussing the 2015 Rafale deal. Text on the video claims that Anil Ambani was India’s preferred partner for the offsets. Hollande reportedly stated that the French government had no role in this selection, noting that Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of Rafale jets, conducted talks with Ambani as suggested by the Indian authorities.
The interview had stirred controversy when it first aired in 2018, raising questions about transparency in the Rafale procurement process. Bhushan’s recent post appears aimed at highlighting similar concerns ahead of the proposed new contract.
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