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Missile deal not signed in a jiffy: Antony

Staff Reporter

A.K. Antony

THRISSUR: Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Thursday said criminal proceedings would be initiated against the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) under the Indian Penal Code if irregularities were found in the missile deal with that country.

“If there is credible evidence, the matter will be investigated and the company will be debarred from defence relations with India for five years. Following allegations of kickbacks, the Defence Ministry, the Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Air Force are examining the deal, he said at a Meet-the-Press at the Thrissur Press Club.

Mr. Antony reiterated that the deal was transparent.

He said:

“According to the pre-integrity pact signed with the IAI, the deal could be cancelled at any phase if any malpractice is detected. The deal was initiated after various defence agencies maintained that missiles with India were outdated and recommended medium range surface to air missiles from Israel, which cost less and were technologically superior.

“The deal was not signed in a jiffy, prior to the Lok Sabha elections, as the Left argues. The proposal was initiated in 2002 and approved in 2005. The deal was discussed at length by various defence agencies for two years [2007-08]. The Security Committee discussed it and referred it to the Cabinet for approval.”

Asked why the UPA government forged a deal with the IAI, which was “blacklisted” following the Barak missile scandal, he said: “The IAI has not been blacklisted. The Barak missile case is under investigation and only a First Information Report has been lodged. The Left should remember that India has defence cooperation with 45 countries, including China and Russia. Israel is one among them.”

Mr. Antony alleged that the Left’s criticism of Israel was dubious. There was huge investment by Israeli companies in the Left-ruled West Bengal in the information technology, tourism and hospitality sectors. Delegations from West Bengal, including the one led by the former Chief Minister, Jyoti Basu, had visited Israel several times. A Minister in the CPI(M)-led E.K. Nayanar government in Kerala had visited Israel and sought cooperation.

LTTE infiltration

Asked about possible LTTE infiltration through the coastal belt in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, he said the coasts were not entirely free of the threat.

“The LTTE is a terror organisation. There is no compromise on our stand towards the LTTE. The LTTE does not represent the interests of Sri Lankan Tamils. India is supporting the suffering Tamils with humanitarian relief.”

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