Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

The Central Government is slated to table the CAG report on Rafale jet fighter deal, which has generated a massive political controversy, in Parliament on Tuesday, sources said familiar with the development said.

The government’s decision to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from French company Dassault has become a controversial political issue, with the main opposition party Congress leveling allegations of corruption and impropriety, and the ruling dispensation defending the move.

The CAG report will be tabled on Tuesday, a day before the end of the present Lok Sabha session. This is the last session of the 16th Lok Sabha as the general elections are due in April-May.

Earlier on Sunday,  Congress leader and former Union Minister Kapil Sibal on Sunday charged the present Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) Rajiv Mehrishi with
complicity in Rafale fighter deal scam and also warned those bureaucrats who are ‘showing loyalty’ towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

CAG Rajiv Mehrishi was complicit in Rafale fighter deal and intends to save the Central government,” he said at a press conference on Sunday, adding Mehrishi was India’s Finance Secretary when the entire Rafale deal was finalized.

READ: Kapil Sibal alleges CAG Mehrishi of ‘Conflict of Interest’ In Rafale Deal; warns bureaucrats of loyalty to PM Modi

However, Union Minister Arun Jaitley reacted on Kapil Sibal on his ‘conflict of interest’ comment, saying that Kapil Sibal even after being in the UPA government for ten years doesn’t know that the Finance Secretary is only a designation is given to the senior most secretary in the Finance Ministry.

Earlier, CAG refused to share the details of the pricing earlier this month while replying to an RTI application, citing that the process is not yet complete and it is ‘ In Progress’ and any disclosure at this stage will amount to a breach of the Parliament’s privilege.

While replying to an RTI query of Pune-based activist Vihar Durve, The CAG said “The audit is under progress and the report is yet to be finalized. The information cannot be given under Section 8(1)(C) of the RTI Act as the disclosure would cause a breach of Parliament”. The RTI activist in its RTI application had sought the report from CAG, the audit report of Rafale Deal.

The Apex Court on December 14 rejected the Petition filed seeking a court-monitored CBI-led investigation into the Rafale deal involving Rs. 59,000 crores for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets. A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi ruled, “We are satisfied that there is no reason to doubt the process is followed and the need of aircraft is not in doubt.”

Following which, Congress National President Rahul Gandhi asserted that ‘No Such report has been placed in the Public Accounts Committee citing Mallikarjun Kharge who is the PAC Chairman. Mallikarjun Kharge lashes out on the government after CAG’s claim that PAC saw a report on Rafale

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By talharashid

Part-time Traveler| Full-time Political Enthusiast | Foodie | Strong Believer of Freedom of Speech and Expressions!

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