New Delhi, January 4: Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday in Lok Sabha answered to the question of Congress president Rahul Gandhi and stated that the Rafale deal was the need of the country to strengthen the armed forces on an urgent basis. She noted that the first aircraft would be delivered in September 2019 and 36 aircraft will be delivered in the year 2022.

Adding more, she said that the process of negotiation in the Rafale deal was finished in 14 months, as BJP government had put the national security as its priority. She said. “The process of negotiation did not run for 10 years and we finished it in 14 months... and the delivery of the 36 aircraft has been advanced by 5 months as compared to the MMRC proposal." Rahul Gandhi Takes Dig at PM Narendra Modi With 'Missing Q3' Twist on Rafale Deal.

She said, “The IGA (inter-governmental agreement) was signed on 21st September, 2015 and the first aircraft will be delivered in 3 years from that date and the last aircraft will come in 2022." She added that getting equipment for our armed forces on time should be a priority for the country.

Rafale Debate: Top Quotes of Nirmala Sitharaman

The Defence Minister said that the opposition is mistaken that the fighter jets are available off-the-shelf. Sitharaman said, “The assumption that these fighters are available off-the-shelf is very mistaken - none of this is available off the shelf.” She sadis, “There is a difference between defence dealings and dealing in defence. We don't do defence dealings. We deal in defence with national security as a priority.”

Stating that environment around India is very volatile, the Union minister said, “The environment around India is very volatile. We will do everything to keep peace, but it cannot be at the cost of operational preparedness.” Adding more,, she said, “National security is important whether they are in power or we are.”

Accusing the opposition of hindering the defence deals and blaming the BJP-led Union government for alleged corruption. She said, “Senior members of the Opposition don't want to hear my answers. It is very disheartening. This country needs to know that defence purchases are national security-related and very important, whether they are in power or we are.”

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 04, 2019 02:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).