The Congress, reacting to the fresh expose by The Hindu on the Rafale deal, has said here on Thursday that time has come to lodge an FIR to investigate and find the truth vis a vis the conduct of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others involved in the matter.
Party’s media in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters that it is now clear that none less than Modi caused loss to the public exchequer by misusing his office.
“It is a clear cut case of Section 13, (1)D of Prevention of Corruption Act and other offences under the Indian Penal Code,” he claimed.
Citing The Hindu report, Surjewala said the report of the Indian Negotiation Team (INT) is now in public domain.
“It is now crystal clear that the Prime Minister misled Parliament and duped the country to cover up the murky dealings and blatant corruption, besides, squandering away national security interests. This conspiracy has now been uncovered,” he alleged.
When asked whether the Congress will lodge an FIR in the case, he said the Prime Minister should respect his position and should ask the investigating agencies to file an FIR in the case based on the fresh facts.
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said it is a clear case of corruption. “A simple calculation also tells us that Modi and (National Security Advisor Ajit) Doval were extra-keen to get the Rafale by paying more money than was needed, as per the INT, perhaps only to bail out a crony businessman!,” he tweeted.
Surjewala said the price of 36 Rafale Aircrafts is far more than 126 Rafale aircrafts under UPA Government.
“Modi misled Parliament and his Government looted the nation’s treasury. Price of 36 Rafale Aircrafts is € 8460 Million (₹ 63,450 crore) by INT’s own admission and not € 7890 Million (₹59,175 Cr), as is being claimed by a fraudulent Modi Government. There is another dimension to the brazen loot - even €8460 Million (₹63,450 Cr) is not the final price of 36 Rafales as it merely takes into account an annual escalation rate (inflation rate) of 1.22 per cent for a period of 5.75 years to arrive at this figure,” he said.
He said the Centre has surreptitiously hidden the fact that if the escalation rate (inflation rate) in France climbs up to 3.5 per cent, then the Centre will be forced to pay 3.5 per cent more price annually.
“The fact that 36 Rafale aircraft would be delivered in 10 years, as per INT and not 5.75 years, was also deliberately hidden. Even if inflation rate of 1.22 per cent is considered for 10 years, still by then, the price will cross € 9,000 Million (₹ 67,500 crore),” he said.
He said by doing away with the bank guarantee condition, the Centre caused loss to the exchequer.
“Bypassing the INT, Modi held ‘direct negotiations’ to buy 36 Rafale aircrafts. Proceedings of INT now establish that the final negotiations were held in France by NSA Ajit Doval on 12th and 13th January, 2016 and the final agreement was consequently signed on 13th January, 2016. This conclusively nails Modi Government’s white lie” he added.