New Delhi: After the Defense Ministry rejected the tender of Adani HSL joint venture to manufacture the diesel-powered submarines, Congress congratulated Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for not "buckling under the pressure" of Prime Minister's office over the matter.
"The Indian National Congress congratulates Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for not awarding the contract of Project 75I of 6 submarines, worth Rs 45,000 crores to Adani HSL joint venture, after Congress raised specific red flags, regarding how the Prime Minister office are adamant over the Indian Navy's decision for not considering Adani Defence joint venture, have to be sidelined," said Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill, on Wednesday.
The Adani group and Hindustan Shipyard Limited's Joint venture bid to participate in the submarine project, namely Project 75I. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Rajnath Singh rejected the proposal of the Adani group, on technical grounds, to build six new diesel-electric submarines.
Jaiveer further stated, "INC congratulates Rajnath Singh for not buckling under the pressure of PMO for not awarding the contract to Adani group joint venture. It is the outcome of valid questions and red flags raised by Congress."
Recently, Congress raised the issue alleging that the Government is flouting norms and the Defence Procurement Procedure 2016 to award this contract to Adani-HSL joint venture. The party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "The Submarine Project 75I is under a cloud of suspicion owing to allegations of favouritism, crony capitalism and violations of DPP 2016 and energy healing of the Indian Navy and empowered committee by the Modi government."
The party also claimed that five responses were received for this project including Larsen and Toubro Limited, Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Reliance Naval & Engineering Limited, Hindustan Shipyard Limited and Adani Defence+ Hindustan Shipyard Limited. But even after having no experience of manufacturing submarines, the Modi government was trying to favour the Adani group in this project.
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