010 Thanks to France and Hollande, it has come out within one month.

On 29.8.2018, I wrote at this blog, in Post No. 009: Click to go to 009 that :"France must come out openly and transparently, about Indo-French Rafael Purchase Deal of 36 Aircraft". Within one month, the Former French President has come out. We must be grateful to him. He is reported to have said:--

"...We didn’t have a say on the subject. It was the Indian government which had proposed this service group and Dassault which negotiated with Ambani. We did not have the choice. We took the interlocutor who was given to us. That’s why, in other circumstances, this group could not be avoided in spite of everything. ..."

The Incumbent French Government has tried to wash-off everything, by passing on the buck to the Aircraft Seller "Dassault", indicating that the choice of Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence and Engineering Ltd. was made by the Aircraft Seller "Dassault", and the Dassault owned it up.

ybrao-a-donkey's personal views which are not intended to be imposed on others:

What I wrote in post No. 009 at this blog has exactly come out. I shall quote it here:--

Though the Contract may be between the French Government and the Indian Government, the French Supplier is a Private Company. French Govt. is not the Manufacturer. Indian Buyer is not a Private Company. It is not that French Government is purchasing the Aircraft from the French Seller and reselling it to Indian Government. In the Negotiations made by UPA Govt. earlier, the Public Sector Company Hindusthan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) a Public Sector Company was expected to maintain and service the Aircraft. Replacement of the Govt. of India Company HAL with Private Sector Company floated by Anil Ambani makes the Deal "Private Sector" at both ends.

In this Capitalist World, it will be simplistic and naive to believe that French Politicians are taking active part in the Promotion of Sale of Rafale Aircraft, only with Patriotic Zeal, of benefiting their country, and creating Employment for their Youth. French Aircraft Makers may be doing some favors to the French Politicians, for promoting the Sale of their Aircraft to India and other Foreign Countries. And the costs of such favors the French Suppliers may be loading in the Prices quoted to Foreign Buyers. These details may become a part of French Politics, and at appropriate time when roles get reversed, when today's French Opposition Parties become French Ruling Paries, they may reveal, the Indoor Management that took place. Or some French Media Organisation may blurt out.

It is also possible out of love for their own country, French Politicians and French Media may never reveal scams which may take place. In case of Bofors Scam relating to purchase of Guns by India from Sweden, it was the Swedish Radio which revealed it in 1987, while the Congress Government in India, wanted it to be hidden. Similarly AugustWestland Helicopter Scam relating to purchase of Italian Helicopters by India from Italy, has to light during the Proceedings of an Italian Court.

In the present case also, French Government, French Media should help by announcing to the World, about what has happened.

Now the "MediaPart" has helped. I greatly appreciate the work of Shri Antton Rouget, their Journalist, and his Professionalism and Enthusiasm.

Whenever frauds/scams take place in India vis-a-vis the European countries, somehow it is the Foreign Media which has always brought out the details, while Indian Governments tried to keep facts as closely guarded secrets. There is a Telugu proverb: "ati rahasyam baTTa bayalu" English: Extreme Secret will become an Open News. All of us must realise, hiding may not really help.

Incomplete. Shall add/delete/modify.

009 France must come out openly and transparently, about Indo-French Rafael Purchase Deal of 36 Aircraft

In view of the forthcoming 2019 Parliament General Elections in India, the Agreement for Purchase of 36 Rafael Fighter Aircraft by India from France, is causing tumultuous commotion and turmoil in the Politico-Economic Environment of India. The latest in the Flux is

A News Report of 8 hours back

Click here to see: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/nda-got-rafale-jets-20-cheaper-than-upa-jaitley/articleshow/65590818.cms. We shall now examine some of the Quotes of the above Article, and also analyse quotes attributed to some Top Indian Leaders.

Quote/News	Views of ybrao-a-donkey, which are not intended to be imposed on others
Aircraft are coming fully loaded and the deal is between government to government without involving anyone in between.	Though the Contract may be between the French Government and the Indian Government, the French Supplier is a Private Company. French Govt. is not the Manufacturer. Indian Buyer is not a Private Company. It is not that French Government is purchasing the Aircraft from the French Seller and reselling it to Indian Government. In the Negotiations made by UPA Govt. earlier, the Public Sector Company Hindusthan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) a Public Sector Company was expected to maintain and service the Aircraft. Replacement of the Govt. of India Company HAL with Private Sector Company floated by Anil Ambani makes the Deal "Private Sector" at both ends. In this Capitalist World, it will be simplistic and naive to believe that French Politicians are taking active part in the Promotion of Sale of Rafale Aircraft, only with Patriotic Zeal, of benefiting their country, and creating Employment for their Youth. French Aircraft Makers may be doing some favors to the French Politicians, for promoting the Sale of their Aircraft to India and other Foreign Countries. And the costs of such favors the French Suppliers may be loading in the Prices quoted to Foreign Buyers. These details may become a part of French Politics, and at appropriate time when roles get reversed, when today's French Opposition Parties become French Ruling Paries, they may reveal, the Indoor Management that took place. Or some French Media Organisation may blurt out. It is also possible out of love for their own country, French Politicians and French Media may never reveal scams which may take place. In case of Bofors Scam relating to purchase of Guns by India from Sweden, it was the Swedish Radio which revealed it in 1987, while the Congress Government in India, wanted it to be hidden. Similarly AugustWestland Helicopter Scam relating to purchase of Italian Helicopters by India from Italy, has to light during the Proceedings of an Italian Court. In the present case also, French Government, French Media should help by announcing to the World, about what has happened.
Mr. Rahul Gandhi himself has given seven different prices in different speeches.	Mr. Rahul Gandhi is an outsider to the Government. If the Government wants to hide the Price, what Mr. Rahul Gandhi can do, except surmising? Obviously, the Information with him, may be from a Secondary Source or from some hear-say.
Let us first come to the pricing. My question therefore is, if you are fully aware -- Mr Anthony fully read the file and abandoned the contract -- he would tell his party that the L1 offer of 2007 had a basic 2007 price plus escalation plus currency variation. In 2015 or 16, this would have been 9 per cent costlier than what the basic aircraft price of 2016 negotiated was… Loaded to unloaded, you compare the price again. The 2016 price is 20 per cent cheaper than the 2007 offer. So, we got it cheaper	For overcoming risks of Currency Variations, Forward Exchange Coverages can be obtained from Public Sector Banks like State Bank of India. About Price Escalation clause which was present during Mr. Anthony's time, and which does not exist during Nirmala Sitaraman's time, Mr. Arun Jaitley can reveal the exact Price Escalation Clauses in both the Contracts. Else, it will be difficult to believe that 2016 price is 20% cheaper than the 2007 Price. A comparison of Mr.A.K. Anthony the then Defence Minister, and Ms. Nirmala Seetharaman, the present Defence Minister At that time it appeared as though Mr. Anthony was acquiescing about what Messrs. Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh were doing. Retrospectively, in 2018, it appears that Mr. Anthony was a better Defence Minister than Mrs. Seetha Raman. It will be preferable and safer for her, in her own Interest, to scrutinise and study all the terms and conditions, read even the Small Print, at all the Stages of the Purchase Operations. She may be signing Documents and Contracts. Hence, any laxity or lack of awareness and skills in any respect, can result in her arrest when a New Govt. of a different Party comes to Power after 2019. If Mr. Narendra Modi wins, it will be okay. Else, her fortunes may get reversed. Then, she will have to go through Hell for five years, till Mr. Narendra Modi again returns to power. Of course, there will be Eminent Senior Lawyers like Mr. Arun Jaitley to defend her. The key questions here are "Caution vs. Speed", and "National Needs vs. Clean Governance". Once, as far as I can remember, about the Coal Scam, Mr. Manmohan Singh raised a question about "Penalising a person for Honest Erroneous Decisions" (or similar words). At that time nobody gave much value to that question. One probable reply for that: "Fire will burn the hands of a person" whether he touches it innocently or nocently. Then, there will be two more issues. 1. Vicarious Liability of a Superior for actions of his Subordinates. 2. Question of Ministers and Prime Ministers signing files blindly, with just cursory glances into them, while orally inquiring from the file-bringing-Official, about "What is all this gOla (Telugu word gOla=Noise. In Telangana State, this is called 'lolli'.) about? Is everything as per Law and Rules?". The Official may nod his Head affirmatively, while ismailing within.
What was negotiated from 2015 to 2016 and finally executed in 2016, with the escalations and the currency variations, the basic aircraft price turns out to be 9 per cent cheaper. Is the Congress party aware of this?	How can Congress be aware it, unless the Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Finance Minister tell? The whole problem is, somehow, they do not want to tell. The best thing in this type of situations will be to place the 2016 Contract and the 2017 Offer before the Parliament for Parliament Scrutiny. What for are Parliaments as Supreme Bodies in Democracies, if they cannot discuss what their Executive Organs do? Executive Organs like Cabinets, President, Vice President are only Agents/Employees of the Parliament, to carry out the Will of the Parliament. They are not Superior(s) to Parliament to keep for themselves, a right to withhold Information. Purchase Agreements of Defence Items may not fall in the Category of Defence Agreements which require 100% Secrecy, because they do not involve Military Strategies in case of Wars. Purchase Agreements are Commercial Transactions.
And the simple case is they have made it as if it is a kindergarten or primary school debate.	Whether it is Primary School/Kindergarten Debate, or PhD Debate, truth should come out. Let the People of India also participate in the Debate, and let Skill Development take place.
I am asking these questions as his misadventure is impairing national interest and I hope Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party would respond immediately	There is no Mutual Trust between the Ruling Party and the Opposition Parties. In such situations, a Probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee also will not lead to revelation of truth. Two solutions: 1. Mr. Rahul Gandhi or his Party can file a Writ in Supreme Court. 2. "Right of Good Governance" can be made a Fundamental Right available to the Governments. For providing this Fundamental Right, Indian Constitution can be amended. Once it is done, Governments can also use the 'Weapon' of filing Writs. Though Government can seek Opinion of Supreme Court, if I am correct, under Article 143, there Supreme Court only expresses its Opinion. On the other hand, if Governments can file Writs, Orders of Supreme Court can be treated as Binding and Enforceable Decrees.
Congress party's false campaign launched on Rafale aircraft deal based on peddled untruth has been casting a cloud on the Inter-Governmental agreement & seriously compromising national security,	A Judicial Enquiry by a Sitting Judge of Supreme Court, will clear all the Clouds. Once allegations made by Mr. Rahul Gandhi are cleared through an Independent Judicial Enquiry, the BJP Government will shine like Koh i Noor Diamond.
Congress compromised national security. It was guilty on three counts - delaying the deal by over a decade comprising national security, speaking of falsehood on pricing and procedure, and further delaying the defence procurement by raising these issues.	Had the Congress Government done it without delay, the BJP might have accused Congress of Undue haste, negligence. And if some fraud took place at any level in the Hierarchial Ladder of the Armed Forces or the Defence Ministry, then also National Security would have got compromised. Mother-in-law vs. Daughter-in-Law Roles In Telugu language there is a proverb:"atta gArU, mI kongu toligindi annA tappE, tolaga lEdu annA tappE". English gist:A mother-in-law asked her Daughter-in-law whether her saree covering her breasts got disturbed? Now, the Daughter-in-law cannot say 'yes'. Then the MIL will say, you are finding fault with me. Suppose the DIL says 'No' (your saree did not get disturbed), then also MIL will be angry. She will say "When my saree got disturbed why didn't you alert me?". Anyway, Political Parties call one another bitches and beat one another. If both the Parties are devoted to National Interest, this will not happen.

Incomplete. Shall try to complete shortly.

008 France knows its priorities

Topics for discussion: 008, Aircraft Trade, Rafale

Mr. Laurent Fabius is the 2014 Foreign Minister of France. He visited India and met Ms. Sushma Swaraj, India's Foreign Minister, in June 2014 and shook hands with her. What for?

Answer: for selling fighter aircrafts.

SELLING AIRCRAFT

French firm Dassault Aviation SA is awaiting finalisation of a contract for supply of 126 Rafale fighter jets, valued at $10 billion, Rs. 600 billion. This seems to be pending since 2012. Mr. Laurent Fabius said:

“...we should see with the new government, which is particularly keen about efficiency and implementation of administrative decisions, that (decisions) that have been taken are implemented rapidly. ...”

"...Discussion is developing in a very positive way and ... we are very confident in the final outcome..."

"... It is fair that for complex matters it takes some time, but there is a difference between some time and too long..."

"... The notion of efficiency - which is very important if I understand correctly, in the new government approach - is completely shared by us... "

SOME REVELATIONS

France will propose a €1-billion credit line over next three years for sustainable infrastructure & urban development in India through French Development Agency.

France may relax norms for issuance of French visa for Indians visiting France. Only 300,000 visitors to France are Indians, whereas total visitors stand at 45,000,000. Just .66% hey!

French President Francois Hollande may extend an official invitation to Mr. Narendra Modi to officially visit France.

ybrao-a-donkey's comments

France is a great business Nation. It knows its priorities.

India may open its economy to foreign investments in defence production sector.

There may be many intractable issues to be resolved.

There seem to be disagreements over cost and work-sharing.

007 Why France's civilian order awards are always conferred on Indian film stars only?

Topics for discussion: 007, Awards, Knight of the Legion of Honour, Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur

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Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur

French foreign minister Laurent Fabius presented the Knight of the Legion of Honor Award to the Bollywood Film Star Mr. Shahrukh Khan, at Tajmahal Hotel, Mumbai, on 1st July 2014.

Satyajit Roy ... 1987.
Shivaji Ganesan ... 1995.
Shaji N. Karun (film director) ...1999.
Amitabh Bachan ... 2007.
Lata Mangeshkar ... 2007.
Shahrukh Khan ... 2014.

Not that, Indians belonging to other professions have not been conferred these awards, but their share is less.

Chevalier (Knight) is the lowest. Hence we have to equate it with Padma Shri award conferred in India. There is an impression in India, that Knight of the Legion of Honor is the Highest of the genre. Grand Cross and Grand Master seem to be the highest awards. There are no Indian recipients of Grand Cross or Grand Master.

There is also an impression in India, that these awards are extremely rare. Since their inception in 1803, nearly a million people seem to have received these awards. Hence, these are not rare.

There is an impression in India, that these awards are conferred by French Government with its own initiative and on its own volition. But, my survey on the net suggests that the award seekers have to apply to the French Consulate on prescribed form, and submit required supporting documents.

There is an impression that in England lordships and peerages are conferred on rich foreigners after collecting political party funds or some other subscriptions. In other words, they seem to be for sale.

In France, it is not clear, whether these Chevalier (Knight-hoods are sold formally or informally), or conferred genuinely free of charges, based only on merits. After all, according to Karl Marx, all human relations are financial relations. Every human exchange, should therefore be a financial exchange. Hence, the question of recovery of at least, the out of pocket expenses, such as the airfare of the French Foreign Minister to India, arrangements for his stay in a 5 star Hotel etc, costs of arranging the function for conferring the award, photographers and videos etc.

006 Burqa and bikiny should be treated equally

Ban on Veil
France has banned niqab and burqa. It started fining 150 Euros on women wearing burqa, in April 2011.

Educated women may have a strong desire to stop wearing the veil. Their parents/husbands may be compelling them to hide themselves beyond limits. Burqas and Niqabs suffocate women.

The Government of France should examine levying the penalty on the husbands and parents of the women wearing the veil. Disincentives and punishments should go to the abetters and inciters and not to the puppets. Taking this philosophy further, the punishments should go to those religious preachers who have been misleading/threatening well-meaning people, in the name of religious traditions.

BIKINIES and SWIM-SUITSWhat useful purpose the bikinies and swim-suits serve, except when a woman participates in a swimming event? Very often, these are worn just to make money by attracting crowds and sales. The original objectives of wearing a bikini/swim suit, such as ventilation, some sun-bathing etc. have lost their utility value. They , now have only provocative value.

The publicity which the President's wife gets by wearing provocative dresses, serves as the best example.Will the French Government prove its sincerity by banning bikinis/swim-suits in public places (other than in sports competitions and films where the stories and themes justify such dress)?

Will the French President pay some token penalty for the lapses of his First Lady?

005 It is good that France and Russia become true friends

FRANCE : Wants to invest in Russian Natural Gas "GAZprom".
DEDUCTION : Tired of nuclear energy?
Is France worried about the Japanese experiences with the coastal Nuclear Power Stations?

004 CORRUPTION IN FRANCE

Former French President Mr. Jacques Chirac is involved in a graft case of fake jobs.

1. No wonder.
Will Mr. Sarkozy be an exception? He cannot be an exception considering the present stagnant state of Europe.
France can learn corruption, if it is lacking, from Italy.

003 SARKOZY IS A MATCH FOR BUSH

EUROPEAN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES The French President Mr. Sarkozy wants European Small and medium Enterprises to have the same protection which the American Small Enterprises have in their own country.


Mr. Sarkozy is a match for George Bush. But Mr. Bush is not going to stay long. Why does the world's history revolve around the three: US, UK and France?

002 FRANCE VS US AND UK

The French President Sarkozy urged US and China to open up their markets. Bush and Brown want France to open up its markets.

It is like two rams on a narrow bridge, asking one another two give way. Finally they dash one another and fall in the ravine.

001 NAPOLEON'S SWORD

PRICES AND VALUES

Napoleon's sword fetched US$ 6.4 million in auctions.

If Napoleon's sword fetched US$6.4 million, how much would a shroud of St. Joanes (Joan of Arc) will fetch? People of measurable contributions will get measureable amounts. Truly great persons will not leave material possessions and their invaluable sacrifices remain in eternity.