Rafale deal: FM Sitharaman says CAG Defence report to be tabled in upcoming parl session

As Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi alleges 'stolen money' in Rafale deal again, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on Saturday, clarified Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on Defence Offset Performance would be tabled in upcoming Parliamentary session. She pointed out that report was to be tabled in budget session, but was t as session was cut short amid COVID-19 pandemic. Talking about Rafale's inclusion in CAG report, she stated that contents of CAG report will be kwn only in Parliament.

Sitharaman: 'CAG report to be tabled in Parliament'

She furr stated that as first Rafale was handed over to India in October 2019, re is a year-wise phasing of how much offset obligation companies/OEMs have to fulfill. Dismissing Gandhi's claims of ' Money was stolen from Indian exchequer in Rafale', she said Defence Ministry has informed her that se obligations were being fulfilled. Earlier in day, Rahul Gandhi stirred Rafale deal citing a report that quoted a source in CAG  saying CAG's performance audit on defence offset contracts submitted to Centre has mention of any offset deals related to Rafale aircraft purchased from French company Dassault Aviation.

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Gandhi: 'Money stolen in Rafale deal'

report claimed that Defence Ministry h informed CAG that Dassault Aviation - which manufactured Rafale jets will share any details of its offset partners only after three years of contract and hence h allegedly been dropped from CAG audit - whose report was submitted to government in December. As per convention, after a CAG report is submitted to government, it will be tabled in Parliament, n referred to Public Accounts Committee, led by Opposition for scrutiny. This is scheduled to happen in upcoming parliamentary session which will commence soon.

Rahul Gandhi drums up scam charge in Rafale deal again, says public money 'stolen'

Rafales land at Ambala air

Five Rafale jets have landed at Indian Airforce's Ambala airbase on July 29. jets took off from Merignac airbase in French port city of Bordeaux on July 21 and arrived here after covering a distance of 7,000 km with air-to-air refuelling and a single stop in United Arab Emirates. jets entered Indian air and were escorted by 2 SU30 MKIs to airbase. y were handed over to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in October 2019.

Rahul Gandhi congratulates IAF for arrival of Rafale jets, repeats questions on deal

Rafale deal controversy

Ahe of 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Gandhi h raised questions on Rafale deal in Parliament on why only 26 aircraft were being acquired when 126 were needed. On pricing of Rafale jet, he h asked why it was changed from Rs 526 crore each to Rs 1600 crore each and questioned choosing Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence for joint venture with  Dassault Reliance Aero Limited (DRAL) over HAL.  se allegations were denied by n-Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, affirming that government approvals were required for joint venture between two private companies. Moreover, Supreme Court dismissed all petitions seeking a probe into alleged irregularities in deal and gave a clean chit to Union government on deal. 

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