HAL Welfare Forum lash out at NDA government

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Welfare forum on Thursday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, for what it alleged a “systematic conspiracy to shut down the PSU”.

“The present government has denied the transfer of technology to HAL in the Rafale Deal. This has not only hurt India’s national and strategic interests but also denied HAL an opportunity to grow in the global defence space,” a letter by the HAL Welfare Forum said.

The allegation comes at a time when the Bengaluru-based defence PSU is struggling financially on back of the paucity of the funds. The company hasn’t received any payment from its biggest customers – Indian Armed Forces – for past 1.5 years. As of date, the defence forces owe the company, a whopping Rs 15,700 crore.

In a detailed letter, the HAL employees alleged that Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is attempting to build a false narrative of the PSU being incapable of building Rafale aircraft or refusing to give guarantee for the manufactured Rafale aircraft purely with a view to mislead the nation.

The employees also alleged partiality by the current government against HAL. “The present government has paid Rs 20,000 crore in advances for Rafale to Dassault Aviation without delivery of a single aircraft. On the other hand, the HAL has not been paid Rs 14,000 crore for the aircrafts/helicopters already delivered. This will rise to Rs 20,000 crore by March 2019,” it said.

Nirmala, last week, in the parliament had said that the HAL had signed contracts worth Rs 26,570 crore since 2014 and orders worth Rs 73,000 crore were being processed.