Amid fighter shortage: Inside story of how Vajpayee worked with rivals to save 1996 Sukhoi-30 deal

Amid the repeated complaints of the shortfall of fighter squadrons in the IAF-- the most recent one being the chief Amar Preet Singh mentioning it on Air Force Day--- watch ThePrint special series 'First Person Second Draft', where Editor-in-chief Shekhar Gupta tells you the story of how IAF’s Su-30 dream would’ve crashed but for the sagacity of Narasimha Rao, Vajpayee, Jaswant Singh and Mulayam Singh Yadav in 1996, originally published on 23 November, 2017.
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To read Article on Sukhoi-30 deal: theprint.in/opinion/how-four-great-indians-from-rival-parties-saved-sukhoi-30/17913/
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[@ThePrintIndia]

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[@debabrataroy3081]

Two of India's best Prime Ministers, that too in one story! I think India was very lucky that two statesmen like Rao and Vajpayee were there to lead her through the precarious 90s. Both of them together can be credited for much of India's success today.

[@shortentertainment93]

Narendra Modi, Indira Gandhi also

[@well_said7846]

@@shortentertainment93 Very true!

[@varun2250]

​@@shortentertainment93Indira Ji made India's national security much stronger but she's the root cause for the Soci alist - Com muni st style of economy that lead the civilization to bankruptcy by 1990's. It took a lot of non- nakli- Gandhi's to get us out of that situation.

[@pp_01123]

@@shortentertainment93 They both have more negatives than positives! While Rao and Vajpayee have more positive and they don't have big blots!

[@user-ng5xr2ju2z]

It is the biggest mistake of independent india, even bigger than 'socialism' of the pre-91 era, to have not given Vajpayee and Rao enough time in office. Even the haters of BJP today admire Vajpayee a lot, what a gem he was. Bringing a garbage INC in 2004 which pissed all over Narasimha Rao's legacy was a huge huge mistake.

[@Ninjashank]

Rafael had no scandal but Rajiv was involved in bofors! Don’t equate the two Sg.

[@truthandjusticeareonlyword63]

This shows how much a statesman Vajpayee was even when his govt was branded untouchable or lost vote of confidence by 1 vote yet he thought in national interest where as Rahul Gandhi openly goes and sides with khalistanis Chinese Pakistanis and all other anti India forces and plays their role in India as opposition role!!

[@Vivekgaikar1]

Back those days when there were real politicians and not actors

[@Prayukth]

Back when we had leaders and not actors in power.

[@shortentertainment93]

@@Prayukth In 2040's people like you will comment on Social media that Modiji was great leader, nowadays leaders won't match him.

[@seventhuser904]

You have a PM who has revolutionized the Manufacturing sector of India especially Defense. We all know what the conditions were in 2014. Sometimes it's good to give the credit where it is due.

[@rishirajsharma7207]

People commented same when Vajpayee was in power , and Rajiv Gandhi was great or Indira , only thing was you were not born back then

[@rohit_dalmia]

Total gem of an episode!

[@sigma-sigma1]

The intial deal of su-30 during deve-gowda primeministership in 1996 and the subsequent deal for license, production of su-30 mki during vajapayee government after the finish of kargil war is what has resulted in India having some 250+ su-30 mki an f-15 class of fighters which is was what has made iaf to be counted among the elite airforces of the world.

[@harshalshah8845]

I never had any respect for Mulayam Singh Yadav, especially when he advocated that India should pay reparations to pakistan due to the sanctions they faced after nuclear tests. This story made me reconsider my opinion.

[@awadheshkalia]

Very interesting. Takes respect for the politicians of that era a few notches up.

[@os4879]

Loved this segment i.e First person Second Draft. Should have it more often.

[@kiranhoskere9932]

What a wonderful episode. You made my day Shekarji

[@John11747]

This was very interesting and fascinating information.... Thnx... 👍❤

[@Torquethetrail]

That's beautiful sir.... I can't even imagine India without the SU30 MKI.... The present political leadership should learn to go beyond political rivalry for larger national interests and security....

[@Ashwekar]

Episodes like this is exactly why I am a paid subscriber if thePrint,

[@MoonDweller1337]

Need more episodes like this!

[@manojchakrabarty758]

Don't go for Quantity...Go for Quality.

[@vinodkumarbalakrishna533]

What happened on 10th September1947 at parluament in Delhi?

[@mailtorajrao]

Excellent episode!

[@nitinpatel1039]

Hal messed everything not eve first order Tejas mk1a delivery started, govt will now get into panic mode additional 2-3 squadron of rafale will be ordered, bigger issue for India is most likely technological lag vi's a bus Pakistan and China due to fifth generation fighter in, couple of year

[@sanjaydutta1736]

Our present leadership lacks any such understanding across party lines . In fact quality of leadership has detoriated

[@MistyMusings-n7x]

Brilliant ❤ You had shared this story in one of your earlier episodes I forget to name now. But this event highlights the quality of our politicians then. Now we have someone crying at significant junctures, other shouts 'khatakhat' in hoarse voice, while all of them wearing contradictions on their sleeves. No wonder the quality of politics is at such a low today. 😢

[@Bloo2314]

Rare man, Mr Bajpayee.

[@pappupass6979]

Great episode. We may still find patriots in every party capable to rise above the party lines, just that parivar vaad keeps decision making to immature politicians at the helm of the family.

[@lordfire5723]

Follow on order was not possible even if it was a get go u just need to see how many Rafael have been delivered to french air force after the delivery of indian Rafael the shortage of supply chain is a real problem in weaponry.

[@surendrabarsode8959]

1. No wonder Shekhar is missing all this inside peeps in decision making at the top most level in the country for last 10 years of Modi. He also knows that this is going continue for many more terms!! 2. Why should any journalist, who has not taken oath of secrecy, know of such inside decisions making as it is taking place? It seems we had too much of a long rope for the journalists. 3. Of course, as a reader or viewer, it is a great thrilling story. And of course, we all trust Shekhar with his national interest commitment, even if he is a sickular !!

[@indrajitkarmakar6293]

Improvement of sound system is required

[@ShubhamTiwari-mu8do]

Though it's a good case of all parties coming together for national interest the ball was in BJP's court of they wanted to play a spoilsport which they did not. Had it been congress in opposition with Mulayam they would have tried to stop like what they tried with fabricated stories in Rafale deal

[@FahadHasin]

Such a delightful episode. I wish we still have such back channels ongoing, but I suspect that's just wishful thinking..

[@advaityachandhoke1406]

If only today's opposition was understanding enough to keep National Interests ahead of their political interests. The maturity shown by former PM Vajpayee ji to allow a defence deal to go through after verifying so that it doesn't get scuttled unnecessarily which would have ultimately hurt India's defence very badly needs to be learnt by politicians today, specially when IAF is in desperate need of modern fighters to maintain adequate deterrence.

[@trivikramkamath5444]

Ha ha when indi loses shekhar speaks in past and international issues like bechara husband in front of wife.

[@devanandaalva5050]

Although divergent Political attitudes and Ambitions, the leaders belonging to the different political parties took an appropriate decision at an appropriate time, without muscle flexing or playing dirty politics, Political Parties in India, during that time played their time before coming to a final deal in welcoming Russian Sukhoi 30 s to INDIA.

[@devanandaalva5050]

Played their candid role( instead of played their time is wrong) is correct.

[@angryhusky2467]

Hope RaGa and politicians like him come to their senses and do the right thing instead of seeing it as a career opportunity.

[@harisaran1752]

Rahu mein itna maturity nahi hey

[@HarmanHundal01]

Rather the 56 inch tongue is the one lacking maturity

[@manjulashanmugasundaram706]

🙏🙏🙏

[@sarabjitprakash4214]

Wish we had that levy now

[@mg.f.9023]

Bye Bye and a Big Salute to the great Mr. Ratan Tata. An inspirational Business Entrepreneur known for his ETHICS in Business and caring for Employees as his own family. India is lucky to have him and we HOPE our young crop of Entrepreneurs take inspiration from him.

[@billubadshah897]

Is Su 30 in Today Still a Capabile Fighter Against F15 A Big Wastage of Money Upgradation eg Ukraine War 2021

[@navneet8269]

France ke sath Dowal sb ne jet en, submarine,un..water drone jaise game changer mile stone agreement kaise kia ? Is per kalam nahi uthati ?? SG buddhi bharst....

[@Vivekgaikar1]

Agreement hua😂😂 adhi news kaha pe padhte ho

[@DkDhillon-wu1ix]

Kash aaj Advaniji sarkar hoti to des ka ye haal na hota

[@shortentertainment93]

You guys made Vajpayeeji lose in 2004. Advani ji in 2009

[@vehlmurali9835]

Bjp is honorable unlike pappu & fabf

[@shekarraju6395]

IAF could have choose a Mirage 2005 or F15. Selection of SU30 was not a good decision.

[@flankerrulz]

No way the US would agree to sell the F-15 to us in 1996 even assuming we could afford to buy them, which we couldn't back then😂 And the mirage 2000 is a different class of fighter which can't replace the flanker and vice versa.😂

[@sudarshandongre6860]

Its ex PM Shri H D Devegowda saved Sukhoi deal. You are spreading Wrong information

[@whatchamacallit78]

BJP cannot justify its national security stance on insufficient air force capacity. There is a concern that an event similar to the one in 1962 might reoccur.

[@هناءعبدالله-س3ق]

انا اختك اليمنيه واعتبرني اختك والله ماتكلمت الا من جوع ومن ضيق الحال انا وكامل اسرتي تشردنا من بيوتنا بَسَبَبَ الَحَرَبَ نَحَنَ فَيَ حَالَهَ لَايَعَلَمَ بَهَا الَا الَلَهَ حَسَبَنَا الَلَهَ وًّنَعَمَ الَوكيَلَ فَيَ مَنَ اوًّصَلَنَا الَى هَاذا الَحَالَ وًّالَلَهَ الَعَظَيَمَ مَا كتَبَتَ هَذا الَمَنَاشَدَهَ غَيَرَ مَنَ الَضَيَقَ وّالَفَقَر يَاعَالَمَ حَسَوّا فَيَنَا ارَجَوّكمَ وّالَلَهَ الَعَظَيَمَ رَبَ الَعَرَشَ الَعَظَيَمَ انَه الَاكلَ مَا فَيَ عَنَدَيَ بَالَبَيَتَ وًّالَلَهَ يَا اخَوّانَيَ انَهَ اخَوًّنَيَ بَقَعَدَوًّ بَالَيَوًّمَيَنَ مَافَى اكلَ وًّالَلَهَ وًّضَعَنَا كثَيَرَ صَعَبَ نَحَنَ 4 نَفَرَ دَاخَلَ الَبَيَتَ وًّابَيَ مَتَوًّفَيَ وًّلَا يَوًّجَدَ مَنَ يَعَوًّلَ عَلَيَنَا وًّسَاكنَيَنَ فَيَ بَيَتَ اجَارَ لَانَسَتَطَيَعَ دَفَعَ الَاجَارَ الَلَيَ ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' اخي اول كلامي انا اقسم بالله على كتاب الله اني لااكذب عليك ولا انصب ولا احتال اني بنت يمنيه نازحين انا واسرتي بيننا ایت الشهرب 20 الف يمني والان علينا 60 الف حق 3 شهور وصاحب البيت من الناس الي ماترحم والله يا اخي انه يجي كل يوم يبهدلنا ويتكلم علينا ويريد من البيت للشارع لانناماقدرنا ندفعله الأجار شافونا الجيران نبكي ورجعو تكلمو الجيران ومهلنالاخره الأسبوع معادفعنا له حلف يمين بالله هذا بيخرجنا إلى الشارع رحمه واحنا. بلادنا بسبب هذا الحرب ولانجد قوت يومنا وعايشين اناوامي واخوتي سفار والدنا متوفي الله يرحمه ومامعنا أحد في هذا الدنيا جاانبنا في هذه الظروف القاسيه اخوتي الصغار خرجو للشارع وشافو الجيران ياكلو واوقفو عند بابهم لجل يعطوهم ولو كسره خبز والله الذي له ملك السموات والارض انهم غلفو الباب وطردوهم ورجعو یبکو ایموتو من الجوع ما احد رحمهم وعطلة ردها لقمت عیش والان لوما احدنا ساعدنا في إيكيلو دقيق اقسم بالله انموت من الجوع فيا اخي انا دخيله على الله ثم عليك واريد منك المساعده لوجه الله انشدك بالله تحب الخير واتساعدني ولو ب 500 ريال يمني مع تراسلي واتساب على هذا الرقم 00967713342392 وتطلب اسم بطاقتي وترسلي ولاتتاخر وايعوضك الله بكل خير اخواني سغار شوف كيف حالتهم وساعدنا وأنقذنا قبل أن يطردونا في الشارع تتبهدل أو نموت من الجوع وانا واسرتي نسالك بالله لولك مقدره على مساعد لاتتاخر علينا وجزاك الله خير… ÷~~√~•|~|=^£€£¢£

[@pulipakasrikiran9307]

This is a scam please no body fall for this.

[@vinoddamji5729]

Dedinitely