Rafale deal: Cong petitions CAG; seeks time-bound probe

Sagar Kulkarni, New Delhi,

Sep 19 2018, 17:37 ist
updated: Dec 14 2018, 23:59 ist

The Congress has alleged that the fresh deal for Rafale fighter jets was inked by the Narendra Modi dispensation at a cost much higher than what was negotiated by the previous government led by it. File photo

Senior Congress leaders on Wednesday met the Comptroller and Auditor General with a demand to conduct a “time-bound” and “forensic” audit of the Rafale fighter aircraft deal.

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad led the delegation which urged the CAG to take note of the “scam” and alleged violation of the Defence Procurement Procedures.

The Congress leaders contended that the Narendra Modi government had caused a “loss to the exchequer” by scrapping the international tender for the medium, multi-role combat aircraft after deciding to buy 36 Rafale jets “off the shelf".

“We, therefore, request the CAG to undertake its constitutional duty by conducting a time-bound special and forensic audit by examining the record threadbare, so that the truth is told to the people of India in a comprehensive and transparent manner affixing the responsibility of the Modi government,” the Congress leaders stated in their memorandum to the CAG.

The Congress argued that the prime minister had no power to unilaterally change the deal. He never consulted the Defence Acquisition Council of the Cabinet Committee on Security, the Congress leaders said.