The decision to buy 36 Rafales was taken by Ajit Doval: Congress

The Congress today upped the ante on BJP on the Rafale deal after a newspaper published a report of the Defence Ministry on the fighter jet negotiation. In a press conference, Congress's Randeep Surjewala said that the deal was not finalised by the Indian Negotiating Team of the Defence Ministry, rather it was finanlised by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on 12th and 13th January of 2016.

He (Doval) was not part of the Indian Negotiating Team or was authorised by the Cabinet Committee of Security Affairs, Congress charged.

It is now clear that the prime minister caused loss to the exchequer of India by misusing his office.


The party alleged that the Modi govt has not included the price of India specific enhancements in the overall cost of the Rafale deal. Also, the party said, the cost of Rafale jets went upward despite not including the bank gurantee or technology transfer.

Surjewala said that time thus has now come for registration of an FIR and an investigation into the matter.