SOURCE: AFI
In a sharp escalation of political rhetoric, India’s principal opposition party, the Indian National Congress, has launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi-led government over reports of a potential acquisition of the Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jet from the United States.
The Congress party, leveraging social media platforms like X, has labeled the proposed deal as “Modi’s Mega Blunder,” raising concerns about its cost, operational viability, and strategic implications for India. This criticism comes amid growing discussions about India’s defense modernization and its relationship with global powers, particularly the United States.
The Congress party took to X to voice its disapproval, with a post that quickly gained traction, amassing 1.2K likes and 2.2K retweets. The post succinctly outlined the opposition’s grievances:
- Cost: “968 crore per jet” (approximately $115 million USD at current exchange rates).
- Operational Expense: “28 lakh per hour to fly” (around $33,500 USD per flight hour).
- Technical Issues: “65 operational flaws.”
- Lack of Technology Transfer: “No tech transfer,” implying India would not gain access to the technology behind the aircraft, limiting self-reliance in defense manufacturing.
The post, attributed to the Established Congress IT Cell members, also posed a rhetorical question in Hindi: “Jis F-35 ko Elon Musk bata chuke hain ‘kabaad,’ use kharidne par kyun tule hain Narendra Modi?” Translated, it reads, “Why is Narendra Modi insistent on buying the F-35, which Elon Musk has already called ‘junk’?” This reference to Elon Musk, a globally recognized tech mogul, appears to be an attempt to amplify the narrative of the F-35’s alleged deficiencies.
In another post, the Congress IT Cell members questioned the strategic intent behind the deal, asking, “F-35 Aircraft Deal: Protecting India or Pleasing the U.S.?” This suggests the opposition views the potential acquisition as a move to appease American interests rather than bolster India’s national security.
The Congress party’s IT cell, known for its active presence on social media, has mobilized its supporters and trolls to amplify the criticism. Several posts from accounts aligned with the Congress ecosystem have surfaced on X, reflecting a coordinated effort to undermine the Modi government’s defense policy. Here are some notable examples of comments by Congress IT cell trolls and supporters:
- @PrithvirajS_INC: “Modi’s Mega Blunder: Buying F-35 jets at ?968 crore each! Costs ?28 lakh per hour to fly, with 65 operational flaws & no tech transfer. A massive waste of taxpayer money! #ModiBlunder #F35Scandal #WasteOfMoney.”
- This post mirrors the official Congress line, emphasizing the financial burden and lack of technological benefits, while introducing hashtags to trend the issue.
- @TacticalTribun: “India’s Congress exposes Modi’s plan to buy F-35 from US, saying it’s too expensive: $200M per jet, $34,000 per hour to fly, 65 operational flaws, and NO tech transfer!”
- @sharemyviews1: “As soon as #America offered India F-35, see how the #toolkit will get activated by the #Congress Eco system to sabotage the Deal. They don’t want India to secure our air power with latest aircraft. Just wait and watch.”
This post, while critical of Congress, inadvertently highlights the opposition’s strategy, accusing them of deploying a “toolkit” (a term often used to describe coordinated social media campaigns) to derail the F-35 deal.
The Congress’s attack on the Modi government over the F-35 offer reflects a broader political strategy to portray the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (B as fiscally irresponsible and overly aligned with foreign powers, particularly the United States. This narrative aligns with the opposition’s historical stance of accusing the BJP of compromising India’s sovereignty and neglecting domestic priorities.
While the Modi government has not officially confirmed negotiations for the F-35, proponents of the deal argue that acquiring such advanced technology could enhance India’s deterrence capabilities, particularly against regional adversaries like China and Pakistan. The F-35’s stealth features, sensor fusion, and network-enabled operations could provide a qualitative edge to the Indian Air Force, which currently faces a shortfall in fighter squadrons.
Critics of the Congress’s stance, including some X users, have accused the opposition of undermining India’s defense modernization efforts. For instance,
@PhataaBaans, a pro-government account, remarked: “Randeep Surjewala calls the acquisition of F35 fighter jet useless. He belongs to the same Congress party whose minister Antony said in the parliament that they didn’t want to develop border areas because China might use it. They never wanted a strong Bharat, they still don’t.” This comment references past Congress policies to suggest a pattern of neglecting national security.
As of now, the Modi government has not issued an official response to the Congress’s allegations, leaving the debate largely confined to social media and political rhetoric.
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