Chidambaram on Rafale makers failing offset obligations: The opening of a can of worms?

Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday criticised the Centre for the Rafale deal, after a Comptroller and Auditor General report showed that French aerospace major Dassault Aviation and European missile maker MBDA had not yet confirmed the transfer of technology to the Defence Research and Development Organisation. The senior leader asked whether the report was the “opening of a can of worms”.

“CAG finds that the vendors of the Rafale aircraft have not confirmed the transfer of technology under the offset contract,” Chidambaram said in a tweet. “The offset obligations should have started on 23-9-2019 and the first annual commitment should have been completed by 23-9–2020, that is yesterday [Wednesday]. Will the government say if that obligation was fulfilled? Is the CAG report the opening of a can of worms?”

The transfer of technology for the indigenous development of the engine for the Light Combat Aircraft was part of the Rs 60,000-crore Rafale deal.