Where is CAG report on Rafale deal; PAC doesn’t have it: Rahul Gandhi

Soon after the apex court verdict on the Rafale deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday hit back at the government by questioning the authenticity of the CAG report “cited by the Supreme Court” on the pricing of the aircraft. He asserted that no such report was referred to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC). Gandhi also reiterated that there was corruption in the Rafale deal making it clear that the Congress, backed by like-minded Opposition parties, will not relent on the demand for JPC probe.

“The Supreme Court has based its report on the claim about a C&AG report on the pricing. Where has that report gone? The PAC too has not received any such report. Is it with some other PAC that PM Modi has set up in the PMO?” Gandhi asked at an AICC press conference.

Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also the chairman of the PAC, said the panel has not received any such report


The Gandhi-led Congress assertion signals two things; firstly it would now open a fresh front by questioning the credibility of the CAG report. Secondly, the party clearly intends to keep up its political campaign on the Rafale issue despite the SC judgement. Gandhi also challenged the PM to face a PAC probe as he repeated his attack against businessman Anil Ambani whose firm got the offset contract.

Both government and Ambani’s Reliance Group have rejected Gandhi’s allegations.

Gandhi also accused the Modi government of destroying “all institutions” and asserted that corruption to the tune of Rs 30,000 crore has taken place in the Rafale deal under its watch. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said his party had always maintained that the Supreme Court was not the proper forum to probe corruption charges of the defence deal. He maintained that the government had provided “halfbaked information and unsigned affidavit” to the apex court.

CWC member Anand Sharma argued that the questions about “over pricing of the Rafale aircafts” and why HAL was overlooked for the offset contract have not yet been answered by either the government or the court judgement.