MoD
disagrees with PMO
At the height of the negotiations over the
controversial €7.87 billion Rafale deal between India and France, the Defence
Ministry raised strong objections to “parallel negotiations” conducted by the
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) with the French side. This had
weakened the negotiating position of Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Indian
Negotiating Team.
The Defence Ministry protested that the
position taken by the PMO was contradictory to the stand taken by MoD and the
negotiating team. It undermines their negotiating position seriously.
The discussions between Diplomatic Adviser to
the French Defence Minister and Joint Secretary to PM tantamount to parallel
negotiations while the Indian Negotiating Team constituted by the Ministry of
Defence is undertaking the process of formal negotiations with the French side.
Such parallel negotiations may be detrimental
to our interests as the French side may take advantage of same by interpreting
such discussions to their benefit and weakening the position taken by Indian
Negotiating Team. This has precisely happened in this case.
Thus there were contrary stand taken in the
parallel negotiations. Anyway, parallel negotiations, parallel economy is all
normal for India; however to reach some reasonable, amicable solution is what
that matters.
The crux of the matter is: 1. Whether the
P.M.O. Is extra constitutional authority? 2. Whether as per the constitution,
the Prime Minister can over-ride the decision taken by other Ministers, with or
without their approval? 3. Whether the decision taken by Prime Minister in
concurrence with the Defence Minister is legitimate or not? 4. Is there any
quid pro quo involved? 5. Is the policy decision by the Government justifiable?
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