France has assured India that there will not be any middlemen in the country's biggest defence deal - the purchase of $12 billion (Rs.64,560 cr) Rafale fighter jets.
French President Francois Hollande, who is on a two-day visit to India with a delegation of ministers and business leaders, said, "I can give my commitment that there will not be anything different (in the Rafale deal). There will be nothing contrary to principles common to us... We are vigilant like India to curb corruption."
Assuring that the Rafale is a clean deal, Hollande said, "The Rafale has qualified because of its excellence. There cannot be any other reason."
Hollande, who is on his first visit to trip to Asia since taking office in May last year, made it clear that his visit was aimed at signalling to New Delhi that he wanted to add a new dimension to the strategic partnership.
During his talks with PM Manmohan Singh, Hollande pushed for the Rafale jet deal, which has been on the negotiating table since January 2012.
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