Parliament Highlights: CAG says Modi govt's Rafale deal saved India 17.08% costs for Specific Enhancements

The Comptroller and Auditor General Report on the Rafale jet fighter deal, which has generated a massive political controversy, was tabled today and states that the deal by the NDA govt was 2.86 per cent lower than the earlier UPA-era deal.

The audit says Modi govt deal 2.86% cheaper than UPA deal.

New Delhi: The Comptroller and Auditor General report on the Rafale deal between India and France was presented in the parliament on Wednesday where the audit says Modi govt deal has worked out 2.86% cheaper than UPA deal. In today's session, which is the last day of the budget session, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and the Triple Talaq Bill's fate will also be decided. The bills will lapse if the Upper House does not pass them on the last day of the Budget session. LIVE UPDATES: 

• P Chidambaram reacts to CAG report, says "Rafale story unfolds. At the end of Chapter 4, what do we have? A costlier aircraft and a longer delivery period!"

Rafale story unfolds. At the end of Chapter 4, what do we have? A costlier aircraft and a longer delivery period!

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) February 13, 2019

• Rajya Sabha passes Motion of Thanks on the President's Address without debate. Interim Budget 2019-20 and Appropriation Bill also passed without debate.
• Rajya Sabha passes Finance Bill without discussion.
• Finding issues in the UPA era 126 aircraft deal, CAG says Defence Ministry team had said in 2015 that the proposal of Dassault Aviation Rafale should have been rejected in technical evaluation stage itself as it was non-compliant with RFP requirements.
• 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 audit noted that the IAF did not define the ASQRs (Air Staff Qualitative Requirements) properly. As a result, none of the vendors could fully meet the ASQRs. ASQRs were changed repeatedly during the procurement process.
• The report also states that the delivery schedule of the first 18 Rafale aircraft is better than the one proposed in the 126 aircraft deal, by five months
• CAG report, tabled before Rajya Sabha today, says compared to the 126 aircraft deal, India managed to save 17.08% money for the India Specific Enhancements in the 36 Rafale contract.
• The audit report says that the Rafale deal by the NDA govt was 2.86 per cent lower than the earlier UPA-era deal.
• Following are the Bills for Consideration and Passing in Rajya Sabha today:
  1. The National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2019
  2. The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018.
  3. The New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019
  4. The Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
  5. The Consumer Protection Bill, 2018.
  6. The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
  7. The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
  8. The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill, 2019
  9. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019
  10. The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018
  11. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018
• • Following are the Bills for Consideration and Passing in Lok Sabha today:
    1. Bills for Consideration and Passing:
    2. The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018
    3. The Jalianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2018
    4. The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2018
    5. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2018
  • Arun Jaitley: The lies of ‘Mahajhootbandhan’ stand exposed by the CAG Report. How does democracy punish those who consistently lied to the nation? It cannot be that the Supreme Court is wrong, the CAG is wrong and only the dynast is right. 2016 vs. 2007 terms – Lower price, faster delivery, better maintenance, lower escalation.
  • Arun Jaitley says "Satyameva Jayate” – the truth shall prevail. The CAG Report on Rafale reaffirms the dictum."

Satyameva Jayate” – the truth shall prevail. The CAG Report on Rafale reaffirms the dictum.

— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) February 13, 2019

• • • ANI says CAG report, tabled before Rajya Sabha today, says compared to the 126 aircraft deal, India managed to save 17.08% money for the India Specific Enhancements in the 36 Rafale contract.
    • The audit says Modi govt deal 2.86% cheaper than UPA deal

  Conclusion: 2.86% cheaper#RafaleDeal #CAGRafaleReport pic.twitter.com/7gfmLgh6At

  — Neeraj Rajput (@neeraj_rajput) February 13, 2019

  • CAG report on Capital Acquisitions in Indian Air Force has been tabled in Rajya Sabha, it also includes the details of Rafale Deal
  • CAG report on Rafale Deal reaches Parliament

Finally #CAG report on #RafaleDeal reaches #Parliament pic.twitter.com/He5fdRAM3g

— Neeraj Rajput (@neeraj_rajput) February 13, 2019

• Congress leaders fly paper planes outside Parliament as Rajya Sabha is in session.

The CAG report which was tabled today comes a day after Congress president Rahul Gandhi slammed the Comptroller and Auditor General report on the Rafale deal, and dubbed it "Chowkidar Auditor General" report. "That CAG report is a worthless report. I would term it as a 'Chowkidar Auditor General Report'. It is Narendra Modi's report, written for the Chowkidar, on behalf of the Chowkidar, for the Chowkidar, by the Chowkidar," he said. On BJP alleging that the Congress does not respect institutions like the CAG, Gandhi said: "No, We don't say, we don't respect the CAG. We say that there is so much evidence in Rafale now including this email when Mr Anil Ambani is negotiating on behalf of Mr Narendra Modi. That this stuff needs to be taken in to account in the CAG report and it is obviously not being taken into account." "And we are also saying that the gentleman (Comptroller and Auditor General Rajiv Mehrishi), who is making the CAG report, is part of this decision. So, he cannot possibly give a proper report. We are not questioning the institution of the CAG," Gandhi said.