Offset Partners Can’t Be Chosen Without Government Clearance: Congress

New Delhi: Maintaining the heat on the Narendra Modi government over the Rafale fighter jet deal, the Congress on Tuesday said that under the defence procurement rules, an offset partner can be chosen only with the Indian government’s clearance and the Modi government is “lying” on the issue. The Congress also demanded that the government clarify that it did not violate the rules in giving the offset contract to a private firm, new to the business, instead of the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) that has vast experience in fighter plane manufacturing. (IANS)