The Congress on Wednesday held a press conference in reaction to news reports on the Scorpene leak, where 22,400 pages of a document titled ‘Resticted Scorpene India’ were leaked. The pages detail the secret combat capabilities of six submarines, designed by French shipbuilder DCNS for the Indian navy, in a $3.5 billion deal.
Read: Everything you need to know about the Scorpene leak
Randeep Surjewala, Congress in-charge of communications called the leak the “biggest disaster” in recent times. “This leak has put question mark on India’s maritime security. It has jeopardised the initiative to build 6 Scorpene subs,” he added. Congress has demanded a high-level inquiry into the same.
The news was first reported in an Australian media report. As the French firm has been built similar submarines for Malaysia, Chile and Brazil, all countries are in danger. For India, the data can prove useful for rivals, like Pakistan and China.
Defence minister Manohar Parrikar has called it a case of “hacking”. He said more information will be available in a couple of days.
While the Australian report hinted that the leak may have come from the French company, DNS has said it could be the fault of India.
The Indian navy released a statement, saying specialists are examining the information and claims. “It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India,” it clarified.
