The Government on Thursday undertook swift damage control exercise after Congress president Rahul Gandhi latched on to a media report to accuse the Centre of ignoring the objection raised by an official of the Defence Ministry against the Rafale fighter jet deal over price issue.
Rahul, who is campaigning in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, took to Twitter to mount attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that the PM gave benefits to “crony capitalists”. He alleged that the officer who raised questions over the deal was penalised, while those who favoured Government dealings have been rewarded.
Rahul alleged the official “proceeded” on a month’s leave and the 36-Rafale deal was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council thereafter.
Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala claimed that the Centre “sent on leave the ‘whistleblower’”, who questioned the loss to the State exchequer “by paying 300 per cent extra for 36 Rafale”.
He also alleged that a senior officer, who overruled the official, was made a member of UPSC (Union Public Service Commission). “Perks of pleasing Modi Govt cover corruption tracks,” he claimed.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman confirmed reports that a Joint Secretary had given a dissent or objection note over the benchmark price of Rafale jet a month before the deal was inked between India and France in September 2016.
She, however, denied the report that the officer went on leave after the note and said he was to attend a scheduled and “pre-decided” foreign study tour.
The news reports said the officer, then Joint Secretary and Acquisition Manager (Air) in the Defence Ministry part of the Contract Negotiations Committee (CNC) and the officer meant to initiate the note for Union Cabinet’s approval, had raised questions about the price and put them on record. His objections were overruled and the officer went on leave, the news report said.
Responding to these issues, Sitharaman in an interview to a private channel, said during negotiations in the Ministry officers give their opinion and the Joint Secretary did so. However, his signatures were there on the final Cabinet note about the Rafale price, she said, adding it was a collective decision.
The Minister also denied that the officer went on leave later and said he was to proceed on a “pre-decided foreign” study tour.
The officer’s objection as part of the Rs 59,000 crore deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets is with the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) which is examining the contract, the report said.
The deal was inked between then Defence Minister Mahoar Parrikar and his French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian in September. The CAG is likely to submit its report in the winter session of Parliament.