PM's Rafale remark an "insult" to IAF, its pilots: Chavan
Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement on Rafale was an "insult" to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and its pilots.
Referring to Modi's statement that the presence of Rafale fighter jets would have given greater firepower to the IAF during the February 27 aerial engagement with Pakistan, Chavan said the PM was politicising the issue.
The former Union minister said the PM's statement indicates India lost the "dogfight" with Pakistan.
He cited a report in a leading US daily which talks about India's "defeat" in the dogfight and raises questions about its "vintage" military.
Chavan said the international media is also raising certain questions about the February 26 air strikes inside Pakistan, but the Centre is unable to come out with answers.
"The report in the international media and the prime minister's statement at the 'India Today Conclave' (on Rafale) is a confession that India faced defeat in the (dog) fight with ...