Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Must Quit: CPI

The National Secretariat of the Communist Party of India issued the following statement on September 21, 2018 demanding resignation of Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

The National Secretariat of the Communist Party of India accuses Union Minister for Defence Nirmala Sitharaman of hiding facts from the general public as well as of belittling the internationally acclaimed public sector unit (PSU) engaged in defence production, namely, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). The party therefore demands her resignation with immediate effect so that misinformation and anti-PSU activities are not carried on further. Also the aircraft deal with the French Government has caused a loss of Rs 41,000 crores to the national exchequer.

Now that former HAL Chairman T. Suvarna Raju has come out clearly on the capability of the HAL to build aircraft, what the Union Defence Minister has said is an utter lie. He has also substantiated that the HAL has manufactured Sukhoy-30 aircraft of 25 tonnes each. Definitely the HAL would have manufactured Rafale aircraft as well.

The party notes with full condemnation that the Union Minister has distorted the facts of the entire episode and lied before the nation with regard to the capacity and efficiency of our public sector in order to enable the transnational corporation of France supply the aircraft at a higher cost. The entire deal smacks of foul intentions essential for committing a scam. The party therefore demands the immediate resignation of Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman owning full responsibility.