Former French President Francois Hollande tossed a stun grenade into an ongoing controversy over India's 2016 purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircrafts. Hollande told French news portal Mediapart that the Indian government had proposed the name of Anil Ambani group as an industrial partner. His statements contradicted what the Narendra Modi government has maintained since the controversy broke last November. Hollande's statement seemed to fly in the face of government assertions that it had nothing to do with Anil Ambani's presence in the deal. " I have not put his name or anyone in the Inter Government Agreement not can I tell a commercial firm to enter into an agreement," defence minister Nirmala had told the media just three days earlier, reiterating the Line the government has taken since the Congress seized upon Rafale as an issue in November 2017. The deal has now serious potential for embarrassing both governments. Asked about Hollande's statement on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly,the President Emanuel Macron spoke of the clear rules in a government- to government discussion and of the contract becoming part of a broader military and defence coalition framework between the two countries. Yet, his predecessor's statement will echo on in what promises to be an unending episodic controversy until the 2019 Loke Sabba polls. With the opposition Congress firing away at government, alleging corruption, nepotism, crony capitalism and price inflation and demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for a probe. The Rafale controversy has become a political hot potato. (Continued)
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