• Source:JND
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India has slammed the American newspaper New York Times for its recent report, suggesting that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) had sold secret and sensitive technology to a blacklisted agency involved in supplying weapons to Russia. While pointing out that the newspaper had published a "factually wrong" report, the Ministry of External Affairs on Monday stated that it was an attempt to distort facts to suit a political narrative. 

The MEA stated that the HAL had followed all the rules and regulations, adding that the reputed media outlets should not be factually incorrect while publishing such reports. "The Indian entity mentioned in the report has scrupulously followed all international obligations on strategic trade controls and end-user commitments," the MEA said.

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"India's robust legal and regulatory framework on strategic trade continues to guide overseas commercial ventures by its companies," it added, urging "reputed media outlets to undertake basic due diligence while publishing such reports, which was overlooked in this case". However, the HAL has not released any statement responding to the allegations yet.

What Had The NYT Report Alleged?

Earlier on March 28, the New York Times published an article, 'Major Donor to Reform U.K. Party Sold Parts Used In Weapons to Russian Supplier', alleging that HAL had shared technology with Russia, which it had received from British aerospace manufacturer HR Smith Group.

The report stated that HR Smith Group had shipped sensitive technologies to Russia via HAL, including nearly $2 million in transmitters and cockpit equipment. The report stated that Britain and America had earlier stated that these technologies could not be sold to Russia amid the ongoing Ukraine war.

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The NYT report claimed that HAL had received equipment from the British firm and "sent parts to Russia with the same identifying product codes within days". Earlier in December 2023, the British government had issued a 'red alert' to the concerned firms about sharing technologies with Russia via intermediaries.