Rafale Deal Controversy: Congress Reiterates 'Chowkidar Chor Hai' Chant After 'The Hindu' Report Shows NDA Struck Costlier Deal

New Delhi, March 6: The Congress party on Wednesday continued its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government on Rafale deal after The Hindu published another report saying that the NDA Rafale deal was €246.11 million more expensive than the deal which UPA-I had sealed due to lack of bank guarantees. The Congress reiterated its 'Chowkidar Chor Hai' chant and alleged that the report submitted by Indian Negotiating Team (INT) exposed PM Modi's corruption.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said time has come to lodge an FIR against PM Modi in connection with the Rafale deal. "While calculating the price of 36 aircraft, the cost of India Specific Enhancements - Rs 9750 crore - was not included. When we were buying with same ISE, the cost was Rs 83 crore per aircraft. When Modi government buys, it has suddenly gone up to Rs 271 crore per aircraft," Surjewala said. Rafale Price Could Have Been Reduced, Says CAG; Criticises Selection of Fighter Jets.

The Congress also alleged that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was involved in Rafale negotiations. "The decision and the price to buy 36 aircraft was done by Ajit Doval on 12-13 January, 2016. Doval was neither authorised by Cabinet Committee on Security nor was he a part of INT. Incidentally, the contract was signed on 13th January, 2016," Surjewala said.

"When this was disclosed, PM Modi forced Defence Secretary to say that PMO had not interfered in the final negotiations. Para 11 of INT report clarifies that final negotiations weren't done by them and was done by Ajit Doval," he added. The Congress leader further alleged that PM Modi misused his office to give benefit to Dassault Aviation and consequently cause loss to public exchequer. Rafale Deal Row Escalates: 'The Hindu' Report Shows Defence Ministry Note Protesting 'Parallel Negotiation' by PMO.

The Congress launched fresh attack afterThe Hindu, in an exclusive report, claimed that the lack of bank guarantees from France made the cost of the Rafale deal negotiated by the BJP-led NDA government more expensive by €246.11 million (around Rs 1,962 crore).

The article said that the seven-member INT, in its final report submitted to the Defence Ministry on 21 July, 2016, had estimated the cost of loading bank guarantees, "which the French commercial suppliers with backing from the French government refused to do", as €574 million (approximately Rs 4,574 crore), making the €7.87-billion (around Rs 62,712, crore) deal signed on 23 September, 2016, for the aircraft and weapons packages significantly more expensive than what the UPA government had negotiated.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 06, 2019 01:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).