Udaipur: As the Rafale fighter jet deal matter continues to be a point of disagreement between the Central government and the opposition parties, the leader of the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has stated that the decision to get hold of 36 aircraft in flyaway condition was taken as they were needed hurriedly.

R Madhavan further claimed that his organization had the capability to manufacture the Rafale aircraft.

“Hindustan Aeronautics Limited was capable when the talks were ongoing but to get quick delivery, the government bought 36 aircraft separately. If like earlier, 126 aircraft were to be made, some would have been made here and other would have been bought. Since now they have bought 36 aircraft, there’s no question of us making it. HAL is not involved; I’d not like to comment now,” Chairman Madhavan  was quoted as saying by Timesnow.

The HAL chief’s statement came as the Congress continues to assert the Narendra Modi led government is procuring the fighter jets from France’s Dassault Aviation at higher cost than what was negotiated by the previous UPA government. The deal being negotiated by the UPA was to pay for 126 aircraft.

The center government has also been accused of ignoring the HAL while negotiating the fresh accord. The opposition has stated that like under the earlier deal that was being negotiated, the HAL could have manufactured some of the aircraft in the course of transfer of technology.