CAG report on Rafale says 17.08% saved for India Specific enhancements in 36 aircraft contract
Story highlights
As per initial reports, Modi's 2016 deal is cheaper by 2.86 per cent and not 9 per cent, the CAG report said
Amid the ongoing controversy over Rafale deal, Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on Wednesday tabled its report on Capital Acquisitions in Indian Air Force in Rajya Sabha. The report also contained details of the Rafale deal with the French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation.
The report said compared to the 126 aircraft deal, India managed to save 17.08 per cent for the India Specific Enhancements in the 36 Rafale contract.
The report also said that the proposed delivery schedule is better than the 126 aircraft deal.
The delivery schedule of the first 18 Rafale aircraft is better than the one proposed in the 126 aircraft deal, by five months, the CAG report further said.
The CAG report also said that the deal by the NDA govt was 2.86 per cent lower than the earlier UPA-era deal.
According to the report, a Defence Ministry team in March 2015 recommended the scrapping of the 126 Rafale deal saying that Dassault Aviation was not the lowest bidder and EADS (European Aeronautic Defence & Space Company) was not fully compliant with the tender requirements.
The government's decision to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from French company Dassault has become a controversial political issue, with the main opposition party Congress levelling allegations of corruption and impropriety, and the ruling dispensation defending the move.
The Rafale issue was also even raised before the Supreme Court, which did not find any substance in the allegations.
However, the issue has continued to rock Parliament with Congress President Rahul Gandhi directly accusing the Prime Minister of benefiting industrialist Anil Ambani.
Meanwhile, Opposition Congress staged a protest outside the Parliament premises over Rafale deal.