'CBI FIR on Barak will hurt the defence procurement: Jaitley

New Delhi, Oct 17 (UNI) Taking note of Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash's statement that his organisation was 'happy' about the 'incomparable'quality of Barak missiles procured for the Navy, the BJP today said lodging of an FIR would hurt the process of defence procurement.

BJP General Secretary and spokesman Arun Jaitley daring the government to disclose the evidences to link NDA convenor and former Defence Minister George Fernandes in the alleged pay-offs said the CBI which had registered an FIR against Mr Fernandes were unable to produce any 'legally admissible' evidence. "If you proceed in this manner without a shred of evidence, it will certainly hurt the defence procurement process because people will refuse to take decisions making things difficult for national security".

He said which equipment should be purchased can not be decided by the politician or the CBI but by the user entrusted with the responsibility of securing the national borders safe. If their requirements are overlooked it is not a good scenario, Mr Jaitley said.

Recalling Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee too had stated that he did not question the quality of Barak missiles purchased, the BJP spokesman said the Government or the CBI to target Mr Fernandes without evidence or truth. They had unfairly done it in the case of purchase of reusable casket to transport the bodies of soldiers killed during the Kargil conflict and made this an election issue and till now no evidence was produced. They were now doing the same in the Barak allegations too and the result will be that the people will refuse to take them seriously, he said.

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