Scorpene data leak: Why don't you order a probe, Congress asks Manohar Parrikar

NEW DELHI: The Congress has alleged that fresh revelations in the Australian media ‘clearly pointed’ to the possibility of vital secret security details of the Scorpene submarine of the Indian fleet might have been exposed. It demanded to know why the defence minister was ‘shying away’ from ordering a probe headed by a sitting Supreme Court judge.

“We may have a situation where the first Scorpene of our fleet may stand compromised. This means stealth capabilities of the sub stand compromised. This is important because the first of the 6 Scorpene fleet that is undergoing trials. The propulsion mechanism of the boat, which goes to the basic design of the submarine, is also out in the public domain due to the leak.

Yet, why the Modi government, especially the defence minister, is not willing to order a probe headed by a sitting Supreme Court judge and conduct a security audit of the ministry of defence”, AICC spokesperson Manish Tewari asked at the official party briefing in New Delhi on Monday. “If the frequencies of the sonar system are out in the public domain, our adversaries can easily take advantage. Which also means the security and safety of that submarine stands compromised.

The DNA of any submarine is its opacity. Every boat has a specific signature. Experts have now said if details about that signature are leaked then vital security details will be out.

Has the government of India initiated some steps, under the terms of contract, in order to mitigate the situation,” Tewari asked. The main Opposition demanded to know why the Modi government “has not” asked DCNS how the data could be exposed despite a contractual obligation to maintain total protection.