The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] on Wednesday, February 13 rubbished the report submitted by the Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) that concludes that the Rafale deal signed by the Bharatiya Janata Party government is 2.86 per cent cheaper than the one that was being negotiated by the previous UPA government.
CPI(M) highlighted the conflict of interest of the current CAG Rajiv Mehrishi was the Finance Secretary when the Rafale deal was being negotiated by the Narendra Modi-led government. “Rajiv Mehrishi, finance secretary at the time of #RafaleDeal negotiations now submitting #RafaleCAGReport giving him and his then bosses clean chit!”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the signing of the deal on April 10, 2015. Mehrishi was the finance secretary from October 24, 2014 to August 30, 2015.
Why are 10 acquisitions prices in the #RafaleCAGReport given, only Rafale price details missing? What is the govt & CAG chief hiding?
— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) February 13, 2019
The party also highlighted that only the price details of the Rafale deal have been redacted from the report. “Why are 10 acquisitions prices in the #RafaleCAGReport given, only Rafale price details missing? What is the govt & CAG chief hiding?”the party said on its official twitter handle.
Is it to show lower price for 36 aircraft and treat India Specific enhancements as a lump sum so as to not to compare actual prices per aircraft?#RafaleCAGReport
— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) February 13, 2019
The party also questioned the 2.86 per cent difference in price as highlighted by the CAG report, “Why separate India Specific enhancements, read original tender specifications, then 17.8% cheaper? Why separate the two?” and speculated if the same was done in order to “show lower price for 36 aircraft and treat India Specific enhancements as a lump sum so as to not to compare actual prices per aircraft?”
Also Read: Revealed: Current CAG Was Finance Secretary When 36-Rafale Deal Finalised, Congress Demands Recusal