BY SANJEEB KUMAR SAHOO
Rolls-Royce began producing jet engines for military aircraft as early as 1943. By contrast, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), despite receiving support from Congress-led governments before 2014 and continuing to receive support from Narendra Modi’s government since 2014, has yet to independently develop any globally competitive products that can be sold worldwide. Interestingly, RIL hasn’t even attempted to do so with any originality.
Reliance Industries Limited is known for selling grocery items and delivering groceries door to door. So, the simple question is: **RIL, what engines have you manufactured and for whom so far, considering that you are now intending to make jet engines for military aircraft?**
Yes, I have reasons to say that previous governments and the current government have supported Reliance Industries Limited Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani. For example, BJP and opposition-party MLAs supported independent candidate Parimal Nathwani in his election to the Rajya Sabha from Jharkhand. Parimal Nathwani is a senior executive and close associate of the Ambani family.
According to the August 14 press release, RIL and Rolls-Royce have entered into an agreement concerning the development and production of jet engines. This raises an important question: **if the Government of India can purchase engines directly from Rolls-Royce, why should it buy them through RIL at an additional cost?**
In my view, direct procurement from Rolls-Royce would be more economical than a Rolls-Royce–RIL venture. Therefore, the government should consider purchasing directly from Rolls-Royce to ensure that public money is used efficiently and that taxpayers do not bear unnecessary additional costs.
I strongly believe that if the Government of India purchases jet engines through an RIL–Rolls-Royce venture, it could primarily benefit RIL’s owner and his family by potentially increasing RIL’s share price and the Ambani family’s wealth, without demonstrating any significant innovation or creativity.
The government of India should also explore alternatives with other established global aerospace companies, including Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and IHI Corporation, and compare their technology, costs, reliability, technology-transfer commitments, and long-term strategic benefits with those offered by Rolls-Royce.
Lastly, I would like to conclude by saying that the Government of India should promote companies whose owners have expertise and experience in their respective fields. For example, no one can make bhujia quite like the Haldiram family. Haldiram has remained focused on this category, continuously innovating and developing quality snack-food products. As a result, Haldiram has partnered with Louis Vuitton’s parent company, LVMH, to expand its products globally.
