Rafale Corruption in Modi Govt: Congress Complains to CAG
Although opposition parties are up in arms about the Rafale issue, it is believed that today there is no administrative or judicial institution in India that can go against the corruption in the Modi government.
By Rakesh Raman
As Congress is determined to make the Rafale corruption case a major issue in the upcoming elections, on Thursday it complained again to Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India – the top auditor of government accounts – urging it to investigate the Rafale case.
A delegation of the Congress leadership met the CAG to inform him about the latest developments in the case and submit a new complaint.
Earlier, Congress released a 20-point representation that it had sent to CAG. It has accused PM Narendra Modi of benefiting his crony friends in the unilateral purchase of 36 Rafale jets from French company Dassault Aviation.
The Congress also said in its letter to CAG that Modi should not have decided about this deal because it was of a technical nature.
INC COMMUNIQUE
Press release by @AnandSharmaINC, former Union Minister and @rssurjewala, AICC Communications I/c, on submitting copy of memorandum on #RafaleScam to CAG. pic.twitter.com/qKkBmOE6Nf
— INC Sandesh (@INCSandesh) October 4, 2018
Moreover, Arun Shourie – a veteran journalist – had suggested that CAG should investigate the Rafale case and release its findings publicly.
[ Corruption in Rafale Deal: Who Will Catch the Culprits in Modi Govt? ]
Although major opposition parties are up in arms about the Rafale issue, it is largely believed that today there is no administrative or judicial institution in India that can go against the corruption in the Modi government.
Many Modi supporters believe that this is a political gimmick that the opposition parties are trying to play against PM Modi. A BJP leader and Modi’s friend Arun Jaitley has refuted the allegations, saying that it is an attempt to malign the government by spreading falsehood regarding the 2016 Inter-Governmental Agreement for the procurement of Rafale fighter aircraft.
However, Congress and other Modi opponents are demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe in the Rafale case which is stated to be the biggest scam in the world.
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As the Rafale scam is being considered as the biggest fraud by any government in India or abroad, it has become a political hot potato which has the sufficient heat to burn the ruling party BJP headed by PM Modi.
Modi’s opponents Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie – who were ministers in the BJP government – and lawyer activist Prashant Bhushan have released a detailed statement along with documents about the shady Rafale deal.
According to them, Modi has caused a loss of over Rs. 35,000 crore (about US$ 5 billion) to public funds to benefit his businessman friend Anil Ambani. “Modi has committed criminal misconduct under Prevention of Corruption Act,” Bhushan said.
Earlier, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had brought up the issue of corruption in Rafale deal when he was discussing the no-confidence motion against the Modi government in Parliament.
Attacking the Modi government for its massive corruption, the Congress president had said that Modi who promised to be a Chowkidar (guard of government assets) has become a Bhagidaar (partner in corruption).
Memorandum by the Congress party to the Comptroller Auditor General demanding an audit of the Rafale deal. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/plTZlh1GXt
— Congress (@INCIndia) September 19, 2018
He has alleged that PM Modi is personally involved in the deal in which kickbacks worth thousands of crores of rupees have been paid. Rahul Gandhi also had ridiculed Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s remarks that her government will not disclose the details of the Rafale deal, which is stated to be worth Rs 130,000 crore (approximately USD $20 billion).
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By Rakesh Raman, who is a national award-winning journalist and social activist. He is the founder of a humanitarian organization RMN Foundation which is working in diverse areas to help the disadvantaged and distressed people in the society.
