CAG report on Rafale ready to be tabled in the Parliament

New Delhi: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has finalised its crucial report on the Rafale fighter jet deal and is likely to table it in Parliament during the upcoming interim budget session beginning on Thursday.

The report on 7.87 billion euro deal inked in 2016 to purchase 36 Rafale jets in a flyaway condition from France is almost ready, according to a source.

The contents of the report are not yet known but a clean chit could give the government a leg up with the Rafale issue being taken as a central electoral point by the opposition.

ALSO READ: Shashi Tharoor Aims Low Jibe At Yogi Adityanath’s Holy Dip

While the CAG has gone into details of the contract given to private parties in India by Dassault, the French manufacture—including the contentious issue of pricing that the Congress has been raising.

However, the report contains confidential that if comes in public domain may redact sensitive details like individual cost of equipment being fitted on the fighter jets.

The tabling of the report could take place before the Supreme Court rules on a correction plea that the Centre has filed on the dismissal of a public interest litigation that had prayed for a detailed investigation into the Rafale deal.

ALSO READ: With tube in nose, Parrikar presents Goa budget with good spirits

The Congress has been criticizing the Modi-led centre government over the Rafale deal, raising the dual issues of over pricing as well as offsets for the contract to Reliance Defence.

The CAG, however, in its report, which reviewed the controversial Rafale deal for more than a year-and-a half, has gone into its pricing, request for proposal received from competitors, and also analysed comparative pricing of other fighter jets available globally.

ALSO READ: CBDT Chairman’s kin probed for illicit land deals; Congress smells conspiracy