New Delhi: The Comptroller and Auditor General’s report on the Rafale aircraft deal could be tabled in the budget session. Top officials have told CNN-News 18 that the final draft of the report is now with the CAG. The CAG will be closely scrutinised by both government and the opposition and the sticking point will be the cost at which the Modi government bought the aircraft.
Rahul Gandhi has consistently attacked the government and alleged that PM Modi caused a loss to the exchequer by buying 36 Rafale aircraft at more than double the cost of what the UPA was negotiating. Officials dealing with the CAG report, however, say that the public copy of their audit will most likely remark on pricing, even if the actual price is not revealed.
“Even without mentioning prices it is possible to opine whether the cost at which the current government finalised the deal is more or less than the earlier deal,” an officer told CNN-News18. Officials also pointed out that the rupee to euro cost could also be factored in while assessing if the price of the aircraft in 2016 was more than the price being negotiated in 2008.
