Parliament LIVE: CAG Report on Rafale Deal Tabled in Rajya Sabha, Rahul Gandhi Flies Paper Planes Outside

These findings contradict the NDA government's two main claims of a cheaper deal and faster delivery of fighter jets to meet immediate needs of the Indian Air Force.

The three experts – MP Singh, Adviser (Cost), a joint secretary-level officer from the Indian Cost Accounts Service; AR Sule, financial manager (Air); and Rajeev Verma, joint secretary & acquisitions manager (Air) –recorded their views in a strong note of dissent on June 1, 2016, The Hindu reported. The note was submitted to the Deputy Chief of Air Staff (DCAS), who was the chairman of the negotiating team, at the end of Rafale negotiations. They also voiced serious concern over the government agreeing to a letter of comfort from the French government instead of a sovereign or bank guarantee, offset issues, legal issues relating to the Inter-Governmental Agreement and Dassault Aviation’s restrictive trade practices. The dissent note further gave details of how the final price for the whole Rafale package shot up to €7.87 billion, or Rs 58,000. 

A report in The Hindu states that the three officials, who were domain experts on the seven-member Indian Negotiating Team (INT) for the Rafale deal, had concluded that the delivery schedule of the first 18 of the 36 flyaway Rafale aircraft “was slower than the one offered for the 18 flyaway aircraft in the original procurement process”. The officials had also pointed out in their eight-page note that the cost of the deal was 55.6 per cent higher than the benchmark price finalised by the INT. The benchmark price, which is discovered in advance by financial experts to act as a ceiling for the whole package, was set at €5.06 billion. However, the dissent note revealed that the final price for the whole Rafale package shot up to €7.87 billion.

The Congress President's attack came after a report in The Hindu claimed that the Rafale deal was not on

"The Rafale scam is the biggest scam of the century and the prime minister is himself involved in it," alleges Congress leader Anand Sharma. Stepping up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale issue, Congress president Rahul Gandhi cited a media report to claim that the PM's argument of better pricing and faster delivery of the jets to defend the deal has been "demolished".

Trinamool Congress MPs are also protesting wearing black clothes against the Central government.

Delhi: Trinamool Congress MPs protest wearing black clothes against the Central government in the Parliament premises. pic.twitter.com/QVnh1uqR8x

— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2019

Telugu Desam Party MPs protest against the Central government in the Parliament premises, demanding special status to Andhra Pradesh.

Delhi: Telugu Desam Party MPs protest against the Central government in the Parliament premises, demanding special status to Andhra Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/k9foLi5QvE

— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2019

CAG Report on Rafale Deal | The CAG report on 11 acquisitions by the IAF is in two volumes, sources told News18. While volume one deals with 10 air acquisitions, volume two deals with the Rafale deal. The two volumes have been printed together. Sources have also confirmed to News18 that that price of the 36 Rafale jets will be masked (redacted) in the CAG report. "We have two reasons to mask the price. One national security and second the contract signed between government of France and India about non-disclosure of prices, "a CAG officer said on the condition of anonymity.

Rafale Deal Tabled in Rajya Sabha | The Parliament session has begun. While the Lok Sabha has been adjourned, the CAG report on Rafale deal was tabled in Rajya Sabha. The report is expected to have the CAG's findings on the Rafale deal over which the Congress and other Opposition parties have locked horns with the BJP-led government.

Cong Leaders Fly Rafale Planes | Congress leaders, including party president Rahul Gandhi, former PM Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, arrived outside the Parliament ahead of the Rajya Sabha session. Continuing their attack over Rafale deal, the leaders were seen throwing paper planes with pictures of PM Modi and Anil Ambani on it.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on CAG report on Rafale deal to be presented before Parliament today: I will be doing a press conference later in detail. pic.twitter.com/xIKT0atRNs

— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2019

Robert Vadra Appears Before ED in Jaipur | Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi's brother-in-law and Priyanka Gandhi's husband Robert Vadra appeared before ED in Jaipur for second consecutive day in connection with Bikaner land scam probe. In the Bikaner case, the agency had summoned Vadra thrice but he failed to appear before it. The Rajasthan High Court asked him and his mother to cooperate with the agency after they approached it, seeking directions that no coercive action is taken against them by the ED. The ED had registered a case in connection with the deal in 2015, taking cognisance of a clutch of FIRs and chargesheets filed by the Rajasthan police after the Bikaner tehsildar complained about alleged forgery in land allotment. It is understood that the agency wanted to question him on the operations of Skylight Hospitality Private Limited, allegedly linked to him, which purchased land in the area. It also wanted to confront Vadra with the statements of those said to be linked to him. 

Rahul Gandhi continued attacking the BJP government over charges of corruption in connection with Rafale deal. He also said that Congress is defeating the BJP in ideological fight.

“Congress Party is defeating the BJP in ideological fight as also the daily discourse”

“Congress is the only party that speaks for the entire country as a united entity”

“Unemployment, Demo Scam & Rafale corruption have undermined Modi Govt’s credibility”

Rahul ji at CPP today pic.twitter.com/DtevBIKKIj

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) February 13, 2019

Govt of 'Bluff, Bluster, Intimidation' | Ahead of the Rajya Sabha session, Congress held its Parliamentary Party today, where UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi slammed the Modi government over its policy of "bluff, bluster and intimidation".

“Bluff, bluster and intimidation have been the governance philosophy of the Modi government.”

“Truth and transparency have been brazenly tossed aside.”

“Last five years have been a time of unprecedented economic stress and social strain”

Smt. Sonia Gandhi at CPP meeting today. pic.twitter.com/XtW68X8CrI

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) February 13, 2019

Opposition leaders from all the two dozen parties who had gathered at the Brigade Ground in Kolkata are expected to meet at a mega rally at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday, with only the Congress' presence not being confirmed yet.

Mega Opposition Rally in Delhi | Another event that is set to keep the day action-packed is the Opposition leaders mega rally in Delhi's Jantar Mantar to corner the Narendra Modi government on various issues. This time, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is the one playing host. The rally comes three weeks after Mamata Banerjee's mega mahagathbandhan rally in Kolkata.  Aam Aadmi Party’s Delhi convenor Gopal Rai said that apart from Banerjee, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, National Conference (NC) leader Farooq Abdullah and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar would attend the rally. Leaders from the Samajwadi Party (SP), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and other parties would also address the mega rally, he said.

Amit Shah to Visit Kumbh Today | While citizens are looking forward to the crucial session of the Parliament, political observers are also keeping an eye on Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah's visit to Kumbh mela today ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Shah's visit assumes significance amid demands by various Hindutva groups for the government to bring in a law for the early construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. First, Shah will go to the Sangam, which is the holy confluence of rivers Ganga and Yamuna, and offer his prayers, the statement issued on Tuesday said. He will be visiting various holy places and meet saints during his one-day visit. The BJP chief has reiterated on multiple occasions his party's commitment to the cause of temple construction. The Ram temple title case is presently being heard in the Supreme Court.

Banerjee, a strident critic of Prime Minister Modi, accused the Centre of trying to insult the people of the country in the name of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

Protest Over Citizenship Bill | Assamese singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika's son, Tez, has also hit out at Centre for invoking his father's name and words and keeping plans "afoot to pass the painfully unpopular Citizenship (Amendment) Bill". Hazarika was awarded the Bharat Ratna — the country's highest civilian award — posthumously by the Modi government last month.

Allies Creating Hurdles for BJP in Rajya Sabha | The bills have generated much heat inside and outside Parliament with the saffron party's own allies creating hurdles in the passage. While BJP's bickering ally Shiv Sena joined the Congress's chorus for a JPC probe into the Rafale fighter jet deal, its ally in Bihar, JD(U), said that if the triple talaq bill comes up for passing in the Rajya Sabha it would vote against the government. The Janata Dal (United) is also set to vote against the controversial Citizenship Bill, which has seen violence and widespread protests in Assam and other states of the North-East. 

Fireworks Likely in Rajya Sabha Over Rafale Deal | Besides the two, the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Performance Audit on 'Capital Acquisition in Indian Air Force', is also listed to be tabled. The report is likely to have the CAG's findings on the Rafale deal, which has been the bone of contention between the Congress and the ruling BJP government. The report is expected to have the CAG's findings on the Rafale deal over which the Congress and other Opposition parties have locked horns with the BJP-led government.

Fate of Citizenship, Triple Talaq Bills | Both the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018 were introduced in Lok Sabha, passed and sent to Rajya Sabha. With the general elections around the corner, the bills will have to clear Lok Sabha again once a new Lower House is elected. According to the Rajya Sabha Legislative Procedure, a bill pending in the Upper House which has not been passed by Lok Sabha does not lapse on the dissolution of the Lower House. But a bill which is passed by Lok Sabha and is pending in Rajya Sabha lapses on the dissolution of Lok Sabha.

Rajya Sabha Set for Stormy Session | The much-awaited CAG report on the Rafale defence deal, the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and the Triple Talaq Bill are set to come up in the Rajya Sabha today as BJP-led government makes a final push to pass them on the last day of the Budget session. While the two bills have generated much heat inside and outside Parliament, the report on the fighter jet planes has led to confrontations between the saffron party and the united Opposition, especially the Congress.