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CORPORATES
he Congress cited media reports Surjewala. “The reason for the same
to point out that the Empowered is yet to be explained by the defence
T Committee of Indian Navy had, ministry.”
therefore, rejected the Adani Defence
JV putting it out of contention while ex- iming to link the dilution of
pressing its doubts over the submarine “ credit rating required with Ada-
deal. “Can the Modi Government direct A ni Defence JV, the opposition
that the Adani Defence JV is eligible,” party also pointed out that the credit
said Surjewala. Congress asks why the rating of Adani Defence’s parent com-
Adding up to his charge, the Con- pany Adani Power had a credit rating
gress leader said that in fact, Adani govt favours a private of ‘BB+’ and all Adani Power subsidiary
Defence JV & HSL had submitted the entity in violation of the companies had mostly credit rating of
Request for Expression Of Interest ‘BBB’ with the exception of Adani Pow-
without even forming a Joint Venture Defence Procurement er Maharashtra Limited which had ‘A-’
up till the last date of submission. Procedure, 2016. The CARE Credit Rating.
To support his allegation, the Con- Congress leaders said they were
gress leader cited a statement made by govt also overrules the aware that questions will be raised on
HSL Managing Director Adm L V Sarat recommendations of the validity of the charges being made
Babu on September 28, 2019, wherein by the party in the submarine deal
he categorically said that HSL was the Navy’s 'Empowered given the earlier campaign alleging
in the process of setting up a JV with Committee' that was set up corruption in the Rafale jet deal did not
Adani Defence and that the company find favour either with the Supreme
was seeking government’s permission for the project, it adds Court or the voters.
for the same. “Hence, the reported de- After the 2019 Lok Sabha poll results,
cision of ‘Empowered Committee’ of in which the Congress could increase
Indian Navy putting the so called Adani its tally marginally from 44 in 2014 na-
Defence-HSL out of contention and tional polls to 52, there was a concern
consideration appears to be prima fa- Boosting capabilities among a section of party that the strat-
cie correct. Why is then Modi Govern- egy to harp too much on the Rafale jet
ment seeking to overrule the Indian The government wants the six deal to target Modi had boomeranged
Navy,” said Surjewala, adding the mat- conventional submarines project on the opposition party as it took focus
ter would be considered by the govern- to strengthen the Indian shipyard away from burning issues like lack of
ment soon. capabilities and cover the gaps in jobs, sliding economy and widespread
Citing further violation of rules in India’s underwater warfare fleet. rural distress.
the case of Adani Defence, the Con- At present, the Indian Navy Noting that facts were different in
gress alleged that as per the Defence fleet has 13 conventional sub- each case, the Congress leader said it
Procurement Procedure 2016 man- marines which are two decades was the duty of the opposition party to
dated assessment of capacity of ship old. Earlier in 200, the Navy had flag issues which demanded transpar-
building entities, it was required that planned to induct 24 such subs ency in national interest.
credit rating of every entity bidding by 2030. The plan to build new “We only want transparency and
for a contract above 1000 crore was submarines has been delayed by accountability. We are not red-flagging
categorized as ‘A’. But in the submarine several years. it out of thin air. There is plausible in-
deal the rating required as being dilut- India has a locally manufac- formation available in public domain
ed to suit Adani Defence, the opposition tured nuclear armed submarine and otherwise. Are the Prime Minister
party alleged. and a nuclear powered subma- and the defence ministry not pushing
Surjewala has argued that adher- rine borrowed from Russia in for consideration of an entity that has
ence to DPP 2016 was compulsory and 2012 on a 10 year lease worth $1 been non-suited by the Empowered
that under DPP, the Defence Ministry billion. Committee of Indian Navy, that is the
was required to approve the special In comparison, China’s fleet short point,” Surjewala said.
purpose vehicle and scrutinise it thor- includes 50 conventional sub- “Let the Prime Minister and the De-
oughly. “The defence ministry, while marines, four nuclear armed and fence Minister come forward and say,
issuing the expression of interest has six nuclear powered vessels. The No, it is not being done, we would say
decided to dilute this credit rating cat- number is expected to be over 65 Thank You, we are satisfied,” he added.
egorization to ‘BBB’ for a project valued by 2020.
45 times higher at 45,000 crore,” said LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM
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