NEW DELHI, May 7 � Seeking to turn the tables on the Opposition, Defence Minister A K Antony today said the present government has not purchased a single new Tatra truck and the current deliveries were being made as per the contract signed in 2003, reports PTI.
Taking on the Opposition during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, Antony said the government has continued with the procurement norms established as per General Staff Qualitative Requirement (GSQR) of 1986.
�We have nothing to hide. So I can answer very boldly,� he said, as BJP members tried to disrupt his reply.
The Defence Minister said no new order has been placed for Tatra trucks since the GSQR was changed in 2008 as per the request of the Army headquarters.
Antony said India has been procuring trucks from Tatra since 1973 and after the break of the Czechoslovakia into Czech Republic and Slovakia, the then Indian government renewed the contract with the company in 1997.
�In 1997, the then government decided to have a new contract with Tatra. Again in 2003, another contract was signed. Again on record I can show you that it was given to Tatra. This contract continues,� Antony said.
