A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi reserved its verdict on a batch of petitions seeking review of its December 14 judgment last year which had dismissed the pleas challenging India's agreement with France to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets.

Former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan Friday sought from the Supreme Court setting aside its earlier verdict that dismissed their petition for criminal investigation into the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-tenders-unconditional-apology-to-supreme-court-for-chowkidar-chor-hai-comment-216903">Rafale fighter jet deal case</a>.

Lawyer Prashant Bhushan, during the two-hour-long hearing, referred to various aspects including alleged suppression of material facts from the court and said that an FIR should have been lodged and a criminal investigation launched into the case.

He also referred to the documents relating to alleged parallel negotiations being undertaken by the PMO and said that three members of the Indian Negotiation Team had objected to the parallel negotiations.

He said that a prima facie cognisable offence has been committed and it warranted registration of the FIR.&nbsp;

Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre objected to the review petition and said that the basic grounds for seeking review of the verdict are the same as they were in the main petition.

The petitioners are seeking review of the judgment on the basis of secret "stolen documents".

He also referred to the secrecy clause of the inter-governmental agreement between India and France and said that this matter pertains to defence deals and not to the award of contract for construction of flyover or dams.

Venugopal sought dismissal of the review petitions.&nbsp;

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi reserved its verdict on a batch of petitions seeking review of its December 14 judgment last year which had dismissed the pleas challenging India's agreement with France to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi reserved its verdict on a batch of petitions seeking review of its December 14 judgment last year which had dismissed the pleas challenging India's agreement with France to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets. Former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan Friday sought from the Supreme Court setting aside its earlier verdict that dismissed their petition for criminal investigation into the Rafale fighter jet deal case. Lawyer Prashant Bhushan, during the two-hour-long hearing, referred to various aspects including alleged suppression of material facts from the court and said that an FIR should have been lodged and a criminal investigation launched into the case. He also referred to the documents relating to alleged parallel negotiations being undertaken by the PMO and said that three members of the Indian Negotiation Team had objected to the parallel negotiations. He said that a prima facie cognisable offence has been committed and it warranted registration of the FIR. Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre objected to the review petition and said that the basic grounds for seeking review of the verdict are the same as they were in the main petition. The petitioners are seeking review of the judgment on the basis of secret "stolen documents". He also referred to the secrecy clause of the inter-governmental agreement between India and France and said that this matter pertains to defence deals and not to the award of contract for construction of flyover or dams. Venugopal sought dismissal of the review petitions.

Supreme Court reserves verdict on Rafale review petitions 

The Supreme Court Monday said it was "little perplexed" over the separate listing, contrary to its order, of the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/rafale-deal-supreme-court-to-hear-review-petition-contempt-plea-against-rahul-gandhi-on-may-10-216412"> pleas seeking review of its verdict in Rafale case </a>and the contempt plea against Congress president Rahul Gandhi for wrongly attributing to the apex court his "chokidar chor hai" remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A special bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said it had made it clear earlier that both the matters would be heard together but despite that, the contempt petition was not listed for hearing along with the review pleas on Monday.

The bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, was told that the contempt petition against Gandhi was listed for hearing on May 10.

"We are little perplexed that the two cases are listed on two different dates when the order was that these matters will be heard together," the bench observed.

"This is the problem. There was order for listing both the matters together. We had dictated the order in an open court but it says one case on May 6 and other on May 10. How can this be done?," it said.

After a brief hearing, the bench ordered that the review pleas and contempt petition against Gandhi be listed together for hearing on May 10.

"The present matters and contempt petition (criminal)... Be listed together on May 10 at 2.00 PM," the bench said.

"We make it clear that the hearing scheduled for May 10 would be taken up and parties shall make an endeavour to complete the same on the said date. Rejoinder to the replies of Union of India may be filed, in the meantime," the bench said in its order.

At the outset, advocate Prashant Bhushan, who is one of the petitioners in the case along with former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie, told the bench that there were three pleas before the court.

Bhushan said besides the review plea, there were two other applications -- one seeking perjury action against unknown government servants for allegedly misleading the court during the Rafale case hearing earlier and the other for production of certain documents.

Bhushan said he would argue on the review plea and application for production of certain documents&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;and the court should allow Shourie to argue on the perjury application.

"Where is the connected matter of contempt?," the bench asked.

Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for one of the petitioner lawyers, Vineet Dhandha, referred to the apex court's April 30 order and said the contempt petition was listed for hearing on May 10.

"We had said that both the matters will be listed together," the bench said.

When Bhushan said the court should hear his arguments on the review plea for an hour, the CJI said, "My brother (Justice Kaul) has to take up miscellaneous matters in his court".

After the court dictated the order, Bhushan said that the Centre has not filed reply on the perjury application.

Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, said no notice was issued to the government on the perjury application.

To this, the bench told Venugopal, "Did we issue any notice to the application for production of documents? But, you have filed your reply to this application".

Bhushan also told the court that he would file rejoinder to the Centre's affidavit which was filed last week.

Gandhi had made the contemptuous remark, "chowkidar chor hai", against Modi, which the apex court had said was wrongly attributed to it.

The top court had on April 30 given another opportunity to Gandhi for filing one more affidavit for his remark.

Though Gandhi, through his counsel, admitted that he made a mistake by wrongly attributing the remark to the Supreme Court, it observed that in the affidavit filed earlier, at one point the Congress President admitted the mistake and at one point denied making contemptuous remarks.

In its December 14, 2018 verdict, the apex court had said there was no occasion to doubt decision-making process in the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France and dismissed all the petitions seeking an investigation into alleged irregularities in the Rs 58,000 crore deal.

The top court had said there was no substantial evidence of commercial favouritism to any private entity.&nbsp;

Later, in a setback to the Centre, the apex court had on April 10 allowed the plea relying on leaked documents for seeking review of its Rafale verdict and dismissed the government's preliminary objections claiming "privilege" over them.

The Rafale fighter is a twin-engine Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation.

A deal to procure the jets was signed between India and France in 2015. The delivery is expected to begin in September this year.

The Supreme Court Monday said it was "little perplexed" over the separate listing, contrary to its order, of the pleas seeking review of its verdict in Rafale case and the contempt plea against Congress president Rahul Gandhi for wrongly attributing to the apex court his "chokidar chor hai" remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Supreme Court Monday said it was "little perplexed" over the separate listing, contrary to its order, of the pleas seeking review of its verdict in Rafale case and the contempt plea against Congress president Rahul Gandhi for wrongly attributing to the apex court his "chokidar chor hai" remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A special bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said it had made it clear earlier that both the matters would be heard together but despite that, the contempt petition was not listed for hearing along with the review pleas on Monday. The bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph, was told that the contempt petition against Gandhi was listed for hearing on May 10. "We are little perplexed that the two cases are listed on two different dates when the order was that these matters will be heard together," the bench observed. "This is the problem. There was order for listing both the matters together. We had dictated the order in an open court but it says one case on May 6 and other on May 10. How can this be done?," it said. After a brief hearing, the bench ordered that the review pleas and contempt petition against Gandhi be listed together for hearing on May 10. "The present matters and contempt petition (criminal)... Be listed together on May 10 at 2.00 PM," the bench said. "We make it clear that the hearing scheduled for May 10 would be taken up and parties shall make an endeavour to complete the same on the said date. Rejoinder to the replies of Union of India may be filed, in the meantime," the bench said in its order. At the outset, advocate Prashant Bhushan, who is one of the petitioners in the case along with former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie, told the bench that there were three pleas before the court. Bhushan said besides the review plea, there were two other applications -- one seeking perjury action against unknown government servants for allegedly misleading the court during the Rafale case hearing earlier and the other for production of certain documents. Bhushan said he would argue on the review plea and application for production of certain documents and the court should allow Shourie to argue on the perjury application. "Where is the connected matter of contempt?," the bench asked. Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for one of the petitioner lawyers, Vineet Dhandha, referred to the apex court's April 30 order and said the contempt petition was listed for hearing on May 10. "We had said that both the matters will be listed together," the bench said. When Bhushan said the court should hear his arguments on the review plea for an hour, the CJI said, "My brother (Justice Kaul) has to take up miscellaneous matters in his court". After the court dictated the order, Bhushan said that the Centre has not filed reply on the perjury application. Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, said no notice was issued to the government on the perjury application. To this, the bench told Venugopal, "Did we issue any notice to the application for production of documents? But, you have filed your reply to this application". Bhushan also told the court that he would file rejoinder to the Centre's affidavit which was filed last week. Gandhi had made the contemptuous remark, "chowkidar chor hai", against Modi, which the apex court had said was wrongly attributed to it. The top court had on April 30 given another opportunity to Gandhi for filing one more affidavit for his remark. Though Gandhi, through his counsel, admitted that he made a mistake by wrongly attributing the remark to the Supreme Court, it observed that in the affidavit filed earlier, at one point the Congress President admitted the mistake and at one point denied making contemptuous remarks. In its December 14, 2018 verdict, the apex court had said there was no occasion to doubt decision-making process in the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France and dismissed all the petitions seeking an investigation into alleged irregularities in the Rs 58,000 crore deal. The top court had said there was no substantial evidence of commercial favouritism to any private entity. Later, in a setback to the Centre, the apex court had on April 10 allowed the plea relying on leaked documents for seeking review of its Rafale verdict and dismissed the government's preliminary objections claiming "privilege" over them. The Rafale fighter is a twin-engine Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft manufactured by French aerospace company Dassault Aviation. A deal to procure the jets was signed between India and France in 2015. The delivery is expected to begin in September this year.

Supreme Court says perplexed over separate listing of contempt case against Rahul Gandhi, Rafale review pleas

The Central government has filed fresh affidavits in the Rafale review case in the Supreme Court stating that the apex court's judgement, which was pronounced last year on December 14, upholding 36 Rafale jets' deal was "correct," news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

The Centre, in its response, also noted that the "monitoring of progress by PMO of this Government to Government process cannot be construed as interference or parallel negotiations".&nbsp;

It added that the "unsubstantiated media reports and/or part internal file notings deliberately projected in a selective manner cannot form the basis for review".&nbsp;

The top court on Tuesday had issued a formal notice to the Central government asking it to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-asks-centre-to-reply-on-rafale-review-petition-posts-matter-for-hearing-on-may-6-214723">file its reply on the Rafale review petitions by May 4</a>. The matter will be put up for hearing on May 6.&nbsp;

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Centre files fresh affidavits in Rafale review case in SC saying- the Dec 14, 2018 judgement upholding 36 Rafale jets' deal was correct and unsubstantiated media reports and/or part internal file notings deliberately projected in a selective manner cannot form basis for review. <a href="https://t.co/oMfFYdZltG">pic.twitter.com/oMfFYdZltG</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1124546148138487808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The Centre, in its letter on Monday, had said it needs time to file reply on merits on the review petitions.

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Centre in affidavit in Rafale review petition case: the then Hon’ble Raksha Mantri had recorded on file that …”it appears that PMO and French President’s office are monitoring the progress of the issues which was an outcome of the summit meeting.” 2/2 <a href="https://t.co/yKwpR9sX5d">https://t.co/yKwpR9sX5d</a>
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The petitions seek review of the apex court's verdict that was pronounced last year in December wherein it had dismissed the pleas challenging India's deal to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets from France.

The Supreme Court had quashed the pleas. In its decision, the apex court had said that there was no occasion to "really doubt the decision-making process".

It added that there was no reason for any intervention by the court on the "sensitive issue" of purchase of 36 jets.

 
&nbsp;

The Central government has filed fresh affidavits in the Rafale review case in the Supreme Court stating that the apex court's judgement, which was pronounced last year on December 14, upholding 36 Rafale jets' deal was "correct," news agency ANI reported.

The Central government has filed fresh affidavits in the Rafale review case in the Supreme Court stating that the apex court's judgement, which was pronounced last year on December 14, upholding 36 Rafale jets' deal was "correct," news agency ANI reported. The Centre, in its response, also noted that the "monitoring of progress by PMO of this Government to Government process cannot be construed as interference or parallel negotiations". It added that the "unsubstantiated media reports and/or part internal file notings deliberately projected in a selective manner cannot form the basis for review". The top court on Tuesday had issued a formal notice to the Central government asking it to file its reply on the Rafale review petitions by May 4. The matter will be put up for hearing on May 6. Centre files fresh affidavits in Rafale review case in SC saying- the Dec 14, 2018 judgement upholding 36 Rafale jets' deal was correct and unsubstantiated media reports and/or part internal file notings deliberately projected in a selective manner cannot form basis for review. pic.twitter.com/oMfFYdZltG — ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2019 × The Centre, in its letter on Monday, had said it needs time to file reply on merits on the review petitions. Centre in affidavit in Rafale review petition case: the then Hon’ble Raksha Mantri had recorded on file that …”it appears that PMO and French President’s office are monitoring the progress of the issues which was an outcome of the summit meeting.” 2/2 https://t.co/yKwpR9sX5d — ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2019 × The petitions seek review of the apex court's verdict that was pronounced last year in December wherein it had dismissed the pleas challenging India's deal to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets from France. The Supreme Court had quashed the pleas. In its decision, the apex court had said that there was no occasion to "really doubt the decision-making process". It added that there was no reason for any intervention by the court on the "sensitive issue" of purchase of 36 jets.

'Monitoring by PMO cannot be construed as interference,' says Centre in fresh affidavits in Rafale review case

The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday issued a formal notice to the Central government asking it to file its reply on the Rafale review petitions by May 4. The matter has been posted for hearing on May 6. Attorney General KK Venugopal sought four weeks time to file reply on the review.

The direction was given by a top court bench headed by&nbsp;Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Sanjay Kaul and KM Joseph.

The development comes after the apex court on Monday&nbsp;had allowed the Centre to circulate a letter among parties concerned for the adjournment of today's hearing on pleas seeking review of its Rafale deal verdict of December 14 last year.

A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna allowed senior advocate R Balasubramanian, appearing for the Centre, to circulate the letter among the parties which include petitioners who have filed review pleas.

The petitions seek review of the apex court's verdict that was pronounced last year in December wherein it&nbsp;had dismissed the pleas challenging India's deal to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets from France.

The Supreme Court had quashed the pleas. In its decision, the apex court had said that there was no occasion to "really doubt the decision-making process".

It added that there was no reason for any intervention by the court on the "sensitive issue" of purchase of 36 jets.

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SC issues a formal notice to Centre on review petitions filed against the December 14 judgement on Rafale deal. Attorney General KK Venugopal sought four weeks time to file reply on the review. Court asked Centre to file reply by May 4 &amp; posts the matter for hearing on May 6. <a href="https://t.co/J6XBkn6eCq">pic.twitter.com/J6XBkn6eCq</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1123152690681348097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, the Centre, in its letter on Monday, had said it needs time to file reply on merits on the review petitions.

The review petitions filed by former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan was listed for hearing before a bench headed by the Chief Justice today in the post-lunch session.

Two other review petitions - filed by Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh and advocate Vineet Dhanda - were also listed for hearing on Tuesday.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday issued a formal notice to the Central government asking it to file its reply on the Rafale review petitions by May 4. The matter has been posted for hearing on May 6.

The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday issued a formal notice to the Central government asking it to file its reply on the Rafale review petitions by May 4. The matter has been posted for hearing on May 6. Attorney General KK Venugopal sought four weeks time to file reply on the review. The direction was given by a top court bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Sanjay Kaul and KM Joseph. The development comes after the apex court on Monday had allowed the Centre to circulate a letter among parties concerned for the adjournment of today's hearing on pleas seeking review of its Rafale deal verdict of December 14 last year. A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna allowed senior advocate R Balasubramanian, appearing for the Centre, to circulate the letter among the parties which include petitioners who have filed review pleas. The petitions seek review of the apex court's verdict that was pronounced last year in December wherein it had dismissed the pleas challenging India's deal to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets from France. The Supreme Court had quashed the pleas. In its decision, the apex court had said that there was no occasion to "really doubt the decision-making process". It added that there was no reason for any intervention by the court on the "sensitive issue" of purchase of 36 jets. SC issues a formal notice to Centre on review petitions filed against the December 14 judgement on Rafale deal. Attorney General KK Venugopal sought four weeks time to file reply on the review. Court asked Centre to file reply by May 4 & posts the matter for hearing on May 6. pic.twitter.com/J6XBkn6eCq — ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2019 × Meanwhile, the Centre, in its letter on Monday, had said it needs time to file reply on merits on the review petitions. The review petitions filed by former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie and activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan was listed for hearing before a bench headed by the Chief Justice today in the post-lunch session. Two other review petitions - filed by Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh and advocate Vineet Dhanda - were also listed for hearing on Tuesday. (With inputs from agencies)

Supreme Court asks Centre to reply on Rafale review petition, posts matter for hearing on May 6

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to Congress president Rahul Gandhi in connection with a contempt petition filed against him by the Bharatiya Janata Party on the Rafale controversy.

Supreme Court to Rahul Gandhi: Explain ''Chowkidar Rafale Chor'' comments

The Ministry of Defence on Saturday quashed a report by French media that said that an Anil Ambani-owned company received massive tax cuts in France after Rafale deal. The ministry, in a statement, termed France's Le Monde's report as inaccurate and an attempt to disinform.

"We've seen reports drawing a conjectural connection between tax exemption to a private company and the procurement of Rafale jets by the Government of India. Neither the period of tax concession nor the subject matter of concession relate to Rafale procurement, concluded in present government's tenure," the statement read as reported by news agency Reuters.&nbsp;

"Any connections drawn between the tax issue and the Rafale matter is totally inaccurate, tendentious and is a mischievous attempt to disinform," the statement read further.&nbsp;

The French government also released an official statement on the issue stating, "A global settlement was reached between the French tax authorities and Reliance Flag, a telecom company, in a tax dispute pertaining to the period 2008-2012. This settlement was conducted in full adherence with the legislative and regulatory framework governing this common practice of the tax administration. It was not subject to any political interference whatsoever."

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Ministry of Defence on reports drawing conjectural connection b/w tax exemption to a private company &amp; procurement of Rafale jets by GoI: Any connections drawn between the tax issue and the Rafale matter is totally inaccurate, tendentious and is a mischievous attempt to disinform <a href="https://t.co/Wnq3YfAZuE">https://t.co/Wnq3YfAZuE</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1117032143132200960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Le Monde’s report stated that French authorities waived off taxes worth 143 million euros, roughly 1, 200 crores, for Anil Ambani's France-based company.

The report said that this happened just a few months after PM Modi announced his plans to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from French company Dassault.

The company in question here is Reliance Flag Atlantic France, a telecommunications company owned by Indian businessman Anil Ambani.

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French Ambassador in response to the article published by Le Monde today: This settlement was conducted in full adherence with legislative &amp; regulatory framework governing this common practice of the tax administration. It was not subject to any political interference whatsoever. <a href="https://t.co/8ijyZaI8Tb">https://t.co/8ijyZaI8Tb</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1117071789908209665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The report noted that Ambani's company was facing two tax investigations - one for the period between 2007 to 2010 when the firm was found liable to pay 60 million euros and the second from 2010 to 2012 after which the company was asked to pay an additional 91 million euros in taxes.

However, the report said that all of this dissolved six months after the Prime Minister made the Rafale in 2015.

The report also said that after the announcement, French tax authorities reportedly waived off Anil Ambani's tax debt worth 143.7 million euros and accepted 7.3 million euros from Reliance as a settlement.

Meanwhile, as per reports, Anil Ambani-led Reliance Communications on Saturday rubbished the French media report. In a statement, RCom clarified that the tax issue of its subsidiary Reliance FLAG Atlantic France SAS pertained to the year 2008 which was much before the government decided to purchase Rafale jets from French company Dassault.&nbsp;

The statement also added that the issue had been settled as per the local laws.

The Ministry of Defence on Saturday quashed a report by French media that said that an Anil Ambani-owned company received massive tax cuts in France after Rafale deal.

The Ministry of Defence on Saturday quashed a report by French media that said that an Anil Ambani-owned company received massive tax cuts in France after Rafale deal. The ministry, in a statement, termed France's Le Monde's report as inaccurate and an attempt to disinform. "We've seen reports drawing a conjectural connection between tax exemption to a private company and the procurement of Rafale jets by the Government of India. Neither the period of tax concession nor the subject matter of concession relate to Rafale procurement, concluded in present government's tenure," the statement read as reported by news agency Reuters. "Any connections drawn between the tax issue and the Rafale matter is totally inaccurate, tendentious and is a mischievous attempt to disinform," the statement read further. The French government also released an official statement on the issue stating, "A global settlement was reached between the French tax authorities and Reliance Flag, a telecom company, in a tax dispute pertaining to the period 2008-2012. This settlement was conducted in full adherence with the legislative and regulatory framework governing this common practice of the tax administration. It was not subject to any political interference whatsoever." Ministry of Defence on reports drawing conjectural connection b/w tax exemption to a private company & procurement of Rafale jets by GoI: Any connections drawn between the tax issue and the Rafale matter is totally inaccurate, tendentious and is a mischievous attempt to disinform https://t.co/Wnq3YfAZuE — ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2019 × Le Monde’s report stated that French authorities waived off taxes worth 143 million euros, roughly 1, 200 crores, for Anil Ambani's France-based company. The report said that this happened just a few months after PM Modi announced his plans to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from French company Dassault. The company in question here is Reliance Flag Atlantic France, a telecommunications company owned by Indian businessman Anil Ambani. French Ambassador in response to the article published by Le Monde today: This settlement was conducted in full adherence with legislative & regulatory framework governing this common practice of the tax administration. It was not subject to any political interference whatsoever. https://t.co/8ijyZaI8Tb — ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2019 × The report noted that Ambani's company was facing two tax investigations - one for the period between 2007 to 2010 when the firm was found liable to pay 60 million euros and the second from 2010 to 2012 after which the company was asked to pay an additional 91 million euros in taxes. However, the report said that all of this dissolved six months after the Prime Minister made the Rafale in 2015. The report also said that after the announcement, French tax authorities reportedly waived off Anil Ambani's tax debt worth 143.7 million euros and accepted 7.3 million euros from Reliance as a settlement. Meanwhile, as per reports, Anil Ambani-led Reliance Communications on Saturday rubbished the French media report. In a statement, RCom clarified that the tax issue of its subsidiary Reliance FLAG Atlantic France SAS pertained to the year 2008 which was much before the government decided to purchase Rafale jets from French company Dassault. The statement also added that the issue had been settled as per the local laws.

Inaccurate, tendentious and mischievous attempt to disinform: Defence ministry quashes French report linking Ambani tax cut and Rafale deal

France's ambassador of India, Alexandre Ziegler, has denied the report in a section of media that Pakistani fighter pilots were trained by France to fly the Rafale jets for Qatari Air Force.

"I can confirm that it is fake news," the ambassador tweeted on Thursday.

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I can confirm that it is fake news. <a href="https://t.co/3XpPnfPqUc">https://t.co/3XpPnfPqUc</a>
— Alexandre Ziegler (@FranceinIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/FranceinIndia/status/1116239186103689216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The news was reported by AIN Online, a media firm which focusses on the aviation sector, in February. The report claimed, "Qatari personnel will be trained at Base Aérienne 118 Mont-de-Marsan in southwestern France, Rochefort, and the Joint Intelligence Training Institute in Strasbourg. The first batch of pilots trained for Qatar in November 2017 were Pakistani exchange officers."

Qatar took delivery of the first of 36 Rafale multi-purpose jet fighters it has ordered from French manufacturer Dassault in February this year.

The hand-over ceremony in Merignac, southwestern France, where the planes are built, was attended by Qatar Defence Minister Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah and Dassault Aviation chief Eric Trappier.

Qatar ordered 24 of the fighters in 2015, adding 12 more last year. It also has an option to buy 36 more.

The twin-engine fighter has been in service with the French Air Force since 2004.

France has also sold Mirage F1, Alpha Jets and Mirage 2000 fighters to Qatar.

(With input from agencies)

France's ambassador of India, Alexandre Ziegler, has denied the report in a section of media that Pakistani fighter pilots were trained by France to fly the Rafale jets for Qatari Air Force.

France's ambassador of India, Alexandre Ziegler, has denied the report in a section of media that Pakistani fighter pilots were trained by France to fly the Rafale jets for Qatari Air Force. "I can confirm that it is fake news," the ambassador tweeted on Thursday. I can confirm that it is fake news. https://t.co/3XpPnfPqUc — Alexandre Ziegler (@FranceinIndia) April 11, 2019 × The news was reported by AIN Online, a media firm which focusses on the aviation sector, in February. The report claimed, "Qatari personnel will be trained at Base Aérienne 118 Mont-de-Marsan in southwestern France, Rochefort, and the Joint Intelligence Training Institute in Strasbourg. The first batch of pilots trained for Qatar in November 2017 were Pakistani exchange officers." Qatar took delivery of the first of 36 Rafale multi-purpose jet fighters it has ordered from French manufacturer Dassault in February this year. The hand-over ceremony in Merignac, southwestern France, where the planes are built, was attended by Qatar Defence Minister Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah and Dassault Aviation chief Eric Trappier. Qatar ordered 24 of the fighters in 2015, adding 12 more last year. It also has an option to buy 36 more. The twin-engine fighter has been in service with the French Air Force since 2004. France has also sold Mirage F1, Alpha Jets and Mirage 2000 fighters to Qatar. (With input from agencies)

Did Pak pilots train on Rafale jets? 'Fake news' says French ambassador

The Supreme Court will Wednesday pronounce verdict on the preliminary objections raised by the Centre that the documents on which it was claiming "privilege" cannot be relied upon to re-examine the verdict in the Rafale fighter jet deal with France.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi will pronounce the verdict.

On March 14, the apex court had reserved verdict on the preliminary objections raised by the Centre on admissibility of privileged documents annexed by former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie as also activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan in their review petition against the top court's December 14 judgement that dismissed all petitions against the Rafale jet deal.

"Only after we decide the preliminary objection raised by the Centre, we will go into other aspect of the review petitions," the bench said, adding that "only if we overrule the preliminary objection, we will go into other details".

The Centre had claimed privilege over documents pertaining to the Rafale fighter jet deal with France and said those documents cannot be considered in evidence as per Section 123 of the Indian Evidence Act.

Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre had contended that no one can produce them in the court without the permission of the department concerned as those documents are also protected under the Official Secrets Act and their disclosure is exempted under the Right to Information Act as per Section 8(1)(a).

Bhushan had contended that the Centre's objections were "mala fide and totally untenable arguments".

The top court had further noted that according to the AG's submissions "there are three Rafale documents whose publication comes under Official Secrets Act, 1923. These documents were unauthorisedly published. You claim privilege under section 123 of Evidence Act. You want us to adjudicate and strike down the review on this basis".

Bhusahn had submitted a note countering the preliminary objections raised by the centre on maintainability of the review petitions, stating that "preliminary objection are mala fide and totally untenable arguments".

He had said government cannot claim privilege over the documents which are already published and is in public domain.

Bhushan had said that Section 123 Indian Evidence Act only protected "unpublished documents".

While the Centre was making submission that the documents can be withheld from disclosure under the RTI Act in view of the national security, the top court said Section 22 of the RTI Act gave it an overriding effect over the Official Secrets Act.

It also said that under Section 24 of the RTI Act even security and intelligence establishments are not exempted from disclosing information in relation to corruption and human rights violations.

"The RTI Act brought a revolution. In 2009, your own government said file notings can be made available under the RTI. Let us not go back now," the bench has said.

Bhushan further said that provisions of the RTI Act say public interest outweighs other things and no privilege can be claimed except for documents which pertain to intelligence agencies.

He also said that there is no government-to-government contract in purchasing Rafale jets as there is no sovereign guarantee extended to India by France in the Rs 58,000 crore deal.

He had submitted why the government didn't lodge any FIR when these documents started coming out in November 2018.

He had further said that the government has itself filed a detailed CAG report regarding as many as 10 defence purchases and it is untenable on their part to now claim privilege.

The Supreme Court will Wednesday pronounce verdict on the preliminary objections raised by the Centre that the documents on which it was claiming "privilege" cannot be relied upon to re-examine the verdict in the Rafale fighter jet deal with France.

The Supreme Court will Wednesday pronounce verdict on the preliminary objections raised by the Centre that the documents on which it was claiming "privilege" cannot be relied upon to re-examine the verdict in the Rafale fighter jet deal with France. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi will pronounce the verdict. On March 14, the apex court had reserved verdict on the preliminary objections raised by the Centre on admissibility of privileged documents annexed by former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie as also activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan in their review petition against the top court's December 14 judgement that dismissed all petitions against the Rafale jet deal. "Only after we decide the preliminary objection raised by the Centre, we will go into other aspect of the review petitions," the bench said, adding that "only if we overrule the preliminary objection, we will go into other details". The Centre had claimed privilege over documents pertaining to the Rafale fighter jet deal with France and said those documents cannot be considered in evidence as per Section 123 of the Indian Evidence Act. Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre had contended that no one can produce them in the court without the permission of the department concerned as those documents are also protected under the Official Secrets Act and their disclosure is exempted under the Right to Information Act as per Section 8(1)(a). Bhushan had contended that the Centre's objections were "mala fide and totally untenable arguments". The top court had further noted that according to the AG's submissions "there are three Rafale documents whose publication comes under Official Secrets Act, 1923. These documents were unauthorisedly published. You claim privilege under section 123 of Evidence Act. You want us to adjudicate and strike down the review on this basis". Bhusahn had submitted a note countering the preliminary objections raised by the centre on maintainability of the review petitions, stating that "preliminary objection are mala fide and totally untenable arguments". He had said government cannot claim privilege over the documents which are already published and is in public domain. Bhushan had said that Section 123 Indian Evidence Act only protected "unpublished documents". While the Centre was making submission that the documents can be withheld from disclosure under the RTI Act in view of the national security, the top court said Section 22 of the RTI Act gave it an overriding effect over the Official Secrets Act. It also said that under Section 24 of the RTI Act even security and intelligence establishments are not exempted from disclosing information in relation to corruption and human rights violations. "The RTI Act brought a revolution. In 2009, your own government said file notings can be made available under the RTI. Let us not go back now," the bench has said. Bhushan further said that provisions of the RTI Act say public interest outweighs other things and no privilege can be claimed except for documents which pertain to intelligence agencies. He also said that there is no government-to-government contract in purchasing Rafale jets as there is no sovereign guarantee extended to India by France in the Rs 58,000 crore deal. He had submitted why the government didn't lodge any FIR when these documents started coming out in November 2018. He had further said that the government has itself filed a detailed CAG report regarding as many as 10 defence purchases and it is untenable on their part to now claim privilege.

Supreme Court verdict Wednesday on Centre's preliminary objection in Rafale review pleas

Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said Monday that once the Rafale is inducted into the Indian Air Force, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rafale-gamechanger-hal-still-deal-iaf-chief-dhanoa-169154">Pakistan "will not come anywhere near the LoC"</a>.&nbsp;

He added that "the deterrence of our air defence will increase manifold" and that Pakistan will not "have an answer" to the Rafale.&nbsp;

The Indian Air Force chief was speaking in Chandigarh at the induction into the air force of the first Chinook helicopters. This first unit of Chinooks — India took possession of them from Boeing on February 1 — will be deployed in Chandigarh.&nbsp;

Dhanoa said Monday that another unit would be deployed in Dinjan in Assam.&nbsp;

"Induction of Chinook will be a game changer the way Rafale is going to be in the fighter fleet," Dhanoa said on Monday.&nbsp;

On February 27 this year, the Indian and Pakistani air forces had engaged in a dogfight for the first time in over 40 years.&nbsp;

Both air forces lost a plane each — the Indians a MiG-21 Bison and the Pakistanis an F-16.&nbsp;

A day earlier, on February 26, the IAF had conducted an air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunwa province. The strike had been retaliation for the suicide attack on a security convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/crpf-convoy-attacked-in-jammu-kashmirs-pulwama-death-toll-climbs-to-40-197468">that left at least 40 CRPF personnel dead</a>.&nbsp;

On February 27, Pakistan dropped bombs on Indian territory from its side of the Line of Control. Pakistan said it was proving its "deterrence capabilities".&nbsp;

India said the bombs were aimed at military installations but that they missed their targets.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also said that the February 26 air strike would have been <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-says-country-missing-rafale-slams-opposition-for-doubting-balakot-air-strike-200822">more effective</a> if India had had the Rafale.&nbsp;

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Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa: When the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rafale?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rafale</a> comes in, the deterrence of our air defence will increase manifold,and they (Pak) will not come anywhere near the LoC or the border,with the kind of of capability that we will posses, for which presently they(Pak) don't have an answer <a href="https://t.co/mVnM62kQyz">pic.twitter.com/mVnM62kQyz</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1110053548111351810?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The previous UPA government had signed a deal with Dassault Aviation — the maker of the Rafale — to buy 126 of the planes. Then, in 2015, Prime Minister Narendra announced a new government-to-government deal to purchase 36 of the planes.&nbsp;

India is still to get possession of the fighter planes. Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said the first planes will arrive in India in September 2019.&nbsp;

Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said Monday that once the Rafale is inducted into the Indian Air Force, Pakistan "will not come anywhere near the LoC". He added that "the deterrence of our air defence will increase manifold" and that Pakistan will not "have an answer" to the Rafale.

Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said Monday that once the Rafale is inducted into the Indian Air Force, Pakistan "will not come anywhere near the LoC". He added that "the deterrence of our air defence will increase manifold" and that Pakistan will not "have an answer" to the Rafale. The Indian Air Force chief was speaking in Chandigarh at the induction into the air force of the first Chinook helicopters. This first unit of Chinooks — India took possession of them from Boeing on February 1 — will be deployed in Chandigarh. Dhanoa said Monday that another unit would be deployed in Dinjan in Assam. "Induction of Chinook will be a game changer the way Rafale is going to be in the fighter fleet," Dhanoa said on Monday. On February 27 this year, the Indian and Pakistani air forces had engaged in a dogfight for the first time in over 40 years. Both air forces lost a plane each — the Indians a MiG-21 Bison and the Pakistanis an F-16. A day earlier, on February 26, the IAF had conducted an air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunwa province. The strike had been retaliation for the suicide attack on a security convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama that left at least 40 CRPF personnel dead. On February 27, Pakistan dropped bombs on Indian territory from its side of the Line of Control. Pakistan said it was proving its "deterrence capabilities". India said the bombs were aimed at military installations but that they missed their targets. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also said that the February 26 air strike would have been more effective if India had had the Rafale. Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa: When the #Rafale comes in, the deterrence of our air defence will increase manifold,and they (Pak) will not come anywhere near the LoC or the border,with the kind of of capability that we will posses, for which presently they(Pak) don't have an answer pic.twitter.com/mVnM62kQyz — ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2019 × The previous UPA government had signed a deal with Dassault Aviation — the maker of the Rafale — to buy 126 of the planes. Then, in 2015, Prime Minister Narendra announced a new government-to-government deal to purchase 36 of the planes. India is still to get possession of the fighter planes. Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said the first planes will arrive in India in September 2019.

When Rafale comes, Pakistan will not come anywhere near LoC: IAF chief BS Dhanoa

Rafale would would increase India's air defence deterrence levels: IAF Chief

Asserting that the Congress has boxed itself into a corner on the issue of national security, the BJP Thursday dubbed its president Rahul Gandhi's attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Rafale issue an attempt to shift the focus due to people's "revulsion" against it.

At a Cabinet briefing, Union minister Arun Jaitley told reporters that every falsehood the Congress and Rahul Gandhi have spoken on the Rafale issue has been "exposed", adding that no dynast can claim that he is above the Supreme Court and the CAG.

"Words were very few, facts were completely wrong and the motivation was also collateral," Jaitley said of Gandhi's press conference.

He claimed that the facts which have emerged about the matter so far have "proved" that the Congress and its leader have spoken "lies" on every issue.&nbsp;

"The Congress has in the last few days through statements of its senior leaders has boxed itself into a corner. They are getting high TRP on Pakistan television but there is revulsion as far as domestic opinion in India is concerned," he said.

Therefore, the motivation today was collateral, to shift the focus and take up an issue which is "false" and whose every "falsehood" has been exposed, he added.

He also defended the government's stand in the Supreme Court over publication of critical media reports that they were based the Rafale documents "stolen" from the defence ministry and that they violated Official Secrets Act.

"It is obvious that defence notings of an issue of sensitive interest to the country have been leaked... We have a very free press and we respect it. Even framers of the Constitution said national security is an exception and that has never been challenged in last 72 years," he said.

On Gandhi's criticism of the government on the Rafale issue, the senior BJP leader said the government has repeatedly made its position clear on the issue.

The Supreme Court has spoken on it and the petitioners are taking one more chance, he said, adding that the CAG has already analysed it.&nbsp;

Earlier in the day, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Gandhi neither believes the Indian Air Force nor the Supreme Court verdict and asked if he needed a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/does-rahul-gandhi-need-certificate-from-pakistan-on-rafale-bjp-201717">certificate from Pakistan about the fighter aircraft</a>.

The Congress president believes Pakistan more than Indian forces and its leaders, Prasad said.&nbsp;

"I totally condemn blatant lies of Rahul Gandhi. He does not believe the Indian Air Force, does not trust the Supreme Court verdict that clearly said there is no commercial impropriety in the (Rafale) procurement process. He does not believe the CAG," Prasad said.

"Will Rahul Gandhi need a certificate about Rafale from Pakistan. In that we cannot help. Of late he believes Pakistan more than Indian forces and its leaders," the senior BJP leader added.&nbsp;

Addressing a press conference in the morning, Gandhi asked why a probe cannot be ordered against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a "Rs 30,000-crore scam" when an investigation has been initiated into the theft of official documents related to the fighter jet deal.

He accused the prime minister of conducting parallel negotiations on the fighter jet deal and the government of manipulating institutions to "save" him.

The parallel negotiations "retarded" the delivery of Rafale, he claimed.&nbsp;

Asserting that the Congress has boxed itself into a corner on the issue of national security, the BJP Thursday dubbed its president Rahul Gandhi's attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Rafale issue an attempt to shift the focus due to people's "revulsion" against it.

Asserting that the Congress has boxed itself into a corner on the issue of national security, the BJP Thursday dubbed its president Rahul Gandhi's attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Rafale issue an attempt to shift the focus due to people's "revulsion" against it. At a Cabinet briefing, Union minister Arun Jaitley told reporters that every falsehood the Congress and Rahul Gandhi have spoken on the Rafale issue has been "exposed", adding that no dynast can claim that he is above the Supreme Court and the CAG. "Words were very few, facts were completely wrong and the motivation was also collateral," Jaitley said of Gandhi's press conference. He claimed that the facts which have emerged about the matter so far have "proved" that the Congress and its leader have spoken "lies" on every issue. "The Congress has in the last few days through statements of its senior leaders has boxed itself into a corner. They are getting high TRP on Pakistan television but there is revulsion as far as domestic opinion in India is concerned," he said. Therefore, the motivation today was collateral, to shift the focus and take up an issue which is "false" and whose every "falsehood" has been exposed, he added. He also defended the government's stand in the Supreme Court over publication of critical media reports that they were based the Rafale documents "stolen" from the defence ministry and that they violated Official Secrets Act. "It is obvious that defence notings of an issue of sensitive interest to the country have been leaked... We have a very free press and we respect it. Even framers of the Constitution said national security is an exception and that has never been challenged in last 72 years," he said. On Gandhi's criticism of the government on the Rafale issue, the senior BJP leader said the government has repeatedly made its position clear on the issue. The Supreme Court has spoken on it and the petitioners are taking one more chance, he said, adding that the CAG has already analysed it. Earlier in the day, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Gandhi neither believes the Indian Air Force nor the Supreme Court verdict and asked if he needed a certificate from Pakistan about the fighter aircraft. The Congress president believes Pakistan more than Indian forces and its leaders, Prasad said. "I totally condemn blatant lies of Rahul Gandhi. He does not believe the Indian Air Force, does not trust the Supreme Court verdict that clearly said there is no commercial impropriety in the (Rafale) procurement process. He does not believe the CAG," Prasad said. "Will Rahul Gandhi need a certificate about Rafale from Pakistan. In that we cannot help. Of late he believes Pakistan more than Indian forces and its leaders," the senior BJP leader added. Addressing a press conference in the morning, Gandhi asked why a probe cannot be ordered against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a "Rs 30,000-crore scam" when an investigation has been initiated into the theft of official documents related to the fighter jet deal. He accused the prime minister of conducting parallel negotiations on the fighter jet deal and the government of manipulating institutions to "save" him. The parallel negotiations "retarded" the delivery of Rafale, he claimed.

Rahul trying to divert attention by attacking Modi on Rafale issue: BJP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday hit out the opposition for questioning his statement that the presence of Rafale fighters would have given greater firepower to the IAF during the February 27 aerial engagement with Pakistan.

Modi said India would not sit quietly in the fight against terrorism and would do all to cure it from the root, which lies in Pakistan.

"I said if Rafale was acquired in time it would have made a difference (during the February 27 dogfight), but they say Modi is questioning our air force strike," he said, addressing a gathering in Gujarat's Jamnagar.

"Please use common sense. What I said was if we had Rafale at the time (of aerial dogfight), then none of our fighter jets would have gone down and none of theirs saved," he added.

Lashing out at statements from opposition party leaders who demanded proof of the February 26 air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Pakistan's Balakot, Modi said his objective was to end terror while that of the opposition was to remove him.

"The root of terrorism disease is in neighbouring country, should we not cure the disease from its root," he said.

"Even if mentors of those seeking to destroy India are outside, this country won't sit quietly," he said, addressing a gathering after inaugurating an annexe building of Guru Govind Singh hospital and various other development works here.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday hit out the opposition for questioning his statement that the presence of Rafale fighters would have given greater firepower to the IAF during the February 27 aerial engagement with Pakistan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday hit out the opposition for questioning his statement that the presence of Rafale fighters would have given greater firepower to the IAF during the February 27 aerial engagement with Pakistan. Modi said India would not sit quietly in the fight against terrorism and would do all to cure it from the root, which lies in Pakistan. "I said if Rafale was acquired in time it would have made a difference (during the February 27 dogfight), but they say Modi is questioning our air force strike," he said, addressing a gathering in Gujarat's Jamnagar. "Please use common sense. What I said was if we had Rafale at the time (of aerial dogfight), then none of our fighter jets would have gone down and none of theirs saved," he added. Lashing out at statements from opposition party leaders who demanded proof of the February 26 air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Pakistan's Balakot, Modi said his objective was to end terror while that of the opposition was to remove him. "The root of terrorism disease is in neighbouring country, should we not cure the disease from its root," he said. "Even if mentors of those seeking to destroy India are outside, this country won't sit quietly," he said, addressing a gathering after inaugurating an annexe building of Guru Govind Singh hospital and various other development works here.

Use common sense, PM Modi tells Opposition on his Rafale remarks

The Supreme Court will on March 6 hear review petitions over its earlier verdict on the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/day-1-aero-india-2019-198720">Rafale</a> deal.

The court, in its verdict, had refused to order a probe into the deal on the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and comprising Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice KM Joseph will hear the review petitions.

On February 26, in an unusual course of action, the apex court decided to hear the review pleas in open court.

According to the normal course of the court, the review petitions are usually heard in chambers.

In its December 14 order, the Supreme Court had dismissed petitions seeking a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the Rafale deal signed two years back, alleging irregularities and corruption in the pact.

The court had said that it does not find any substantial material on record to show that this is a case of commercial favouritism to any party by the Government of India. The deal was announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s visit to France in April 2015 and the deal was concluded in 2016.

On January 2, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/petitioners-arun-shourie-yashwant-sinha-prashant-bhushan-to-move-sc-for-review-of-rafale-judgment-187838">petitioners in Rafale fighter jet deal case</a> — Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie, both former Union Ministers, and Prashant Bhushan, a noted lawyer — had moved the apex court for review of its Rafale judgment of December 14.

They had asked for recalling of the judgement and had also sought an oral hearing in the open court for their review plea.

Their petition states that the December 14 verdict contained several errors and also it relied upon patently incorrect claims made by the Government in an unsigned note given in a sealed cover to the court, which is a violation of the principle of natural justice.

They also alleged that Prime Minister Modi had signed an agreement for 36 Rafale jets on April 10, 2015, without any such requirement of 36 jets being given by the Air Force Headquarters and without the approval of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which are the mandated first steps for any defence procurement.

The Supreme Court will on March 6 hear review petitions over its earlier verdict on the Rafale deal. The court, in its verdict, had refused to order a probe into the deal on the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France.

The Supreme Court will on March 6 hear review petitions over its earlier verdict on the Rafale deal. The court, in its verdict, had refused to order a probe into the deal on the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and comprising Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice KM Joseph will hear the review petitions. On February 26, in an unusual course of action, the apex court decided to hear the review pleas in open court. According to the normal course of the court, the review petitions are usually heard in chambers. In its December 14 order, the Supreme Court had dismissed petitions seeking a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the Rafale deal signed two years back, alleging irregularities and corruption in the pact. The court had said that it does not find any substantial material on record to show that this is a case of commercial favouritism to any party by the Government of India. The deal was announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s visit to France in April 2015 and the deal was concluded in 2016. On January 2, petitioners in Rafale fighter jet deal case — Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie, both former Union Ministers, and Prashant Bhushan, a noted lawyer — had moved the apex court for review of its Rafale judgment of December 14. They had asked for recalling of the judgement and had also sought an oral hearing in the open court for their review plea. Their petition states that the December 14 verdict contained several errors and also it relied upon patently incorrect claims made by the Government in an unsigned note given in a sealed cover to the court, which is a violation of the principle of natural justice. They also alleged that Prime Minister Modi had signed an agreement for 36 Rafale jets on April 10, 2015, without any such requirement of 36 jets being given by the Air Force Headquarters and without the approval of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which are the mandated first steps for any defence procurement.

Supreme Court to hear petitions seeking review of Rafale judgement on March 6

The Supreme Court Thursday said that it would consider listing of a plea seeking review of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-probe-needed-in-rafale-fighter-jet-deal-rules-supreme-court-183957">its verdict in the Rafale case</a>.

The apex court on December 14 last year dismissed a clutch of PILs, including the one filed by former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie and lawyer Prashant Bhushan, saying there was "no occasion to doubt" the decision-making process of the Centre in the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said four applications or petitions have been filed in the Rafale matter and one of them is still lying with the registry on account of defect.

"The combination (of the judges) of bench will have to be changed. It is very difficult. We will do something for it," the bench, also comprising Justices L N Rao and Sanjiv Khanna, said when&nbsp;Bhushan sought urgent listing of the petitions in the Rafale case.&nbsp;

Bhushan said that the review petition filed by AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was defective and other petitions had no defects to be cured.

He also said that besides the review petition, an application seeking perjury prosecution against some central government employees for giving misleading information to the court has also been filed.&nbsp;

Besides Bhushan, Sinha and Shourie had moved the Supreme Court Monday seeking initiation of perjury proceedings against central government officials for allegedly giving "false or misleading" information in a sealed cover in the high-profile Rafale case.&nbsp;

The Supreme Court Thursday said that it would consider listing of a plea seeking review of its verdict in the Rafale case. The apex court on December 14 last year dismissed a clutch of PILs, including the one filed by former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie and lawyer Prashant Bhushan, saying there was "no occasion to doubt" the decision-making process of the Centre in the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France.

The Supreme Court Thursday said that it would consider listing of a plea seeking review of its verdict in the Rafale case. The apex court on December 14 last year dismissed a clutch of PILs, including the one filed by former Union ministers Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie and lawyer Prashant Bhushan, saying there was "no occasion to doubt" the decision-making process of the Centre in the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said four applications or petitions have been filed in the Rafale matter and one of them is still lying with the registry on account of defect. "The combination (of the judges) of bench will have to be changed. It is very difficult. We will do something for it," the bench, also comprising Justices L N Rao and Sanjiv Khanna, said when Bhushan sought urgent listing of the petitions in the Rafale case. Bhushan said that the review petition filed by AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was defective and other petitions had no defects to be cured. He also said that besides the review petition, an application seeking perjury prosecution against some central government employees for giving misleading information to the court has also been filed. Besides Bhushan, Sinha and Shourie had moved the Supreme Court Monday seeking initiation of perjury proceedings against central government officials for allegedly giving "false or misleading" information in a sealed cover in the high-profile Rafale case.

Rafale verdict: Supreme Court says it may hear plea asking for a review

When people ask me if the NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done anything wrong in the procurement of Rafale fighter jets from France's Dassault, my typical answer is: "I don't think so, but...."

You may ask why the "but' -- and thereby hangs the tale of how to understand the purchase of military jets which has turned controversial with Congress president Rahul Gandhi accusing the BJP of corruption in the deal, though there is no evidence of payoffs at all. Compared to what happened in the Bofors arms purchase scandal in the late 1980s, the Rafale deal allegations look like a picnic. 
 
In the well-documented Bofors case, the very same Narasimhan Ram, the journalist at The Hindu who is now writing articles critical of the NDA government because it overruled dissent by defence ministry officials, was speaking of Swiss bank accounts and secret payoffs that pointed at the very least to a cover-up by the then Congress government under Rahul's father, the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

But then, the problem is that the Rafale deal is a colourful one with circumstantial evidence pointing to unusual procedures that can be questioned on grounds of transparency. This is where we need a "But." The fact is that confidentiality is required in defence deals. The fact is that no less than the chief justice of the Supreme Court of India said he found nothing amiss in the confidential details of pricing involving the Rafale jets. The fact is also that the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (the institution that in the Bofors case criticised the Rajiv Gandhi government) has also said the Rafale deal value was cheaper than that negotiated by the UPA government led by the Congress.

But there are 'buts' still hanging in the air of New Delhi because the CAG is yet to pronounce its views on the controversial offset deal in which Dassault was left to choose its partner, which turned out to be the Anil Ambani-led Reliance ADAG group. The key point is that the government says it did not intervene in Dassault's choice of partner in which public sector HAL was pushed to the sidelines. The public sector is a holy cow in India and I do not rule out questions continuing to pour out on the issue. It is perfectly normal and acceptable for political bosses to overrule bureaucratic recommendations, as it has happened in the Rafale case, but in a politically charged atmosphere, questions do not go away.

The big questions: Is not intervening in the choice of offset partners by a government a good practice or not when the money in question goes out of the Indian taxpayer's pocket? In politics, sometimes, "not doing" is perceived as a form of doing (an error of omission) and this is what leaves Congress with one more round of ammunition that leads to a "but" being left open in the game.

Also, there is the nagging question of whether the rules of confidentiality applied by the NDA government will be employed by a future government formed by some other party or coalition to cloak things. In the Bofors case, there was a lot of attempted secrecy. The Rafale case sets a precedent that may worry long-term thinkers. How does one establish a technical difference between desirable confidentiality and undesirable secrecy? That is the source of another "But" on my part.

There is also the issue of whether there has been any "influence peddling" and "undue advantage" which are not exactly bribery in the conventional sense of the term but falls within the international lexicon of corruption.

The Anti Bribery Guidance website says 'influence peddling' occurs "when an undue payment or benefit in kind is promised or given to a person who has a real or apparent influence on the decision-making of a public official with the intent that the person persuades the decision maker to act in a desired manner. The emphasis here is on 'undue' to distinguish it from legitimate influence seeking such as lobbying or advocacy."

In the coming days, some of the issues related to the Rafale deal will be examined from this point of view. You can say the deal is nowhere near the murkiness of Bofors, but then, this is not same India. New era decisions will face newer questions. 
 
(This article was originally published on Zee News. Read the <a href="https://zeenews.india.com/blogs/narendra-modi-emerges-from-rafale-in-better-shape-than-rajiv-gandhi-from-bofors-2180524.html">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

 
&nbsp;

When people ask me if the NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done anything wrong in the procurement of Rafale fighter jets from France's Dassault, my typical answer is: "I don't think so, but.

When people ask me if the NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done anything wrong in the procurement of Rafale fighter jets from France's Dassault, my typical answer is: "I don't think so, but...." You may ask why the "but' -- and thereby hangs the tale of how to understand the purchase of military jets which has turned controversial with Congress president Rahul Gandhi accusing the BJP of corruption in the deal, though there is no evidence of payoffs at all. Compared to what happened in the Bofors arms purchase scandal in the late 1980s, the Rafale deal allegations look like a picnic. In the well-documented Bofors case, the very same Narasimhan Ram, the journalist at The Hindu who is now writing articles critical of the NDA government because it overruled dissent by defence ministry officials, was speaking of Swiss bank accounts and secret payoffs that pointed at the very least to a cover-up by the then Congress government under Rahul's father, the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. But then, the problem is that the Rafale deal is a colourful one with circumstantial evidence pointing to unusual procedures that can be questioned on grounds of transparency. This is where we need a "But." The fact is that confidentiality is required in defence deals. The fact is that no less than the chief justice of the Supreme Court of India said he found nothing amiss in the confidential details of pricing involving the Rafale jets. The fact is also that the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (the institution that in the Bofors case criticised the Rajiv Gandhi government) has also said the Rafale deal value was cheaper than that negotiated by the UPA government led by the Congress. But there are 'buts' still hanging in the air of New Delhi because the CAG is yet to pronounce its views on the controversial offset deal in which Dassault was left to choose its partner, which turned out to be the Anil Ambani-led Reliance ADAG group. The key point is that the government says it did not intervene in Dassault's choice of partner in which public sector HAL was pushed to the sidelines. The public sector is a holy cow in India and I do not rule out questions continuing to pour out on the issue. It is perfectly normal and acceptable for political bosses to overrule bureaucratic recommendations, as it has happened in the Rafale case, but in a politically charged atmosphere, questions do not go away. The big questions: Is not intervening in the choice of offset partners by a government a good practice or not when the money in question goes out of the Indian taxpayer's pocket? In politics, sometimes, "not doing" is perceived as a form of doing (an error of omission) and this is what leaves Congress with one more round of ammunition that leads to a "but" being left open in the game. Also, there is the nagging question of whether the rules of confidentiality applied by the NDA government will be employed by a future government formed by some other party or coalition to cloak things. In the Bofors case, there was a lot of attempted secrecy. The Rafale case sets a precedent that may worry long-term thinkers. How does one establish a technical difference between desirable confidentiality and undesirable secrecy? That is the source of another "But" on my part. There is also the issue of whether there has been any "influence peddling" and "undue advantage" which are not exactly bribery in the conventional sense of the term but falls within the international lexicon of corruption. The Anti Bribery Guidance website says 'influence peddling' occurs "when an undue payment or benefit in kind is promised or given to a person who has a real or apparent influence on the decision-making of a public official with the intent that the person persuades the decision maker to act in a desired manner. The emphasis here is on 'undue' to distinguish it from legitimate influence seeking such as lobbying or advocacy." In the coming days, some of the issues related to the Rafale deal will be examined from this point of view. You can say the deal is nowhere near the murkiness of Bofors, but then, this is not same India. New era decisions will face newer questions. (This article was originally published on Zee News. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Narendra Modi emerges from Rafale in better shape than Rajiv Gandhi from Bofors

With the latest report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on Air Force, Performance Audit on “Capital Acquisition in Indian Air Force” tabled in Parliament, Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Arun Jaitley has gone on the offensive and called the Congress party’s bluff. He has tweeted "CAG report has completely vindicated the stand of NDA Government. It has blasted the big lie which was being spearheaded by the Congress."

The CAG report says that the fly-away price of the Rafale jet is the same as agreed in 2007 by the UPA government for 126 aircraft deal, Compared to that deal, India could manage to save 17.08 per cent money for specific enhancements in the present 36 Rafale contract.&nbsp;

The CAG report comes close on the heels of the huge Congress rally in Lucknow on January 11 to kickstart the party's election campaign for the coming Lok Sabha election. This rally was led by Congress President Rahul Gandhi, along with the two newly appointed general secretaries of the party, Rahul’s sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the scion of the erstwhile ruling family of Gwalior Jyotiraditya Scindia, both in-charge of Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress President used the Lucknow rally to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi by calling him a thief.&nbsp;

Armed with the 141-page CAG report, Jaitley has lashed out at the Congress President and said in a tweet: "The entire pricing argument was factually wrong. The Rs. 30,000 crore favour to a private company is non-existent. He has also reminded people how in 1989 when the Congress government headed by Rajeev Gandhi was mired in corruption, they had manufactured a Saint Kitts against VP Singh. Because Modi has a clean image they are manufacturing a crisis.... This is exactly the repetition of 1989.”&nbsp;

When the Rafale deal is in focus, one should understand that acquisition by the Air Force has been disturbed for over 15 years.&nbsp;

As a consequence of this, about a dozen Air Force squadrons had suffered depleting strength and there was an emergency-like situation. Hence for the sake of augmenting air power, there were negotiations and renegotiations for 2 squadrons on a priority basis leading to the Rafale deal.

A lot of confusion has been created among the masses by the Congress party and the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance of opposition parties) about Rafale. People need to be told that Rs. 30,000 crore offset has not gone entirely to Reliance. In fact, Reliance, chosen directly by Dassault under the offset clause, is there only for manufacturing the cockpit assembly for Falcon jets and the Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL) has already completed the first cockpit front section for a Falcon 2000 at its Nagpur manufacturing facility.&nbsp;

Also, the Congress leaders have been talking a lot about HAL not being brought in through the offset route for Rafale jets. In this regard, it is important to note that negotiations for Transfer of Technology (ToT) in the case of HAL had collapsed during the previous UPA regime and if negotiations were to start again, it would have taken another 2 to 3 years to arrive at an agreement.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra might be enthused by the huge turnout at Congress party’s Lucknow rally. But in the coming days, she will have to be ready to face a burst of salvos for standing by Robert Vadra, her husband, when he went to the Enforcement Directorate to answer queries during the investigation into the alleged acquisition of properties in London worth millions of British Pound.&nbsp;

Her action by any standard goes against probity in public life. Priyanka would have risen in public esteem if she had detached herself and taken the stand that first her husband should get exonerated just as leaders, cutting across party lines, had done when they were roped in the Hawala scandal in the early ‘90s of the last Century. 
 
By not taking this position it is clear that in the case of the first family of the Congress party the family comes before the nation.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.) 
 
&nbsp;

With the latest report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on Air Force, Performance Audit on “Capital Acquisition in Indian Air Force” tabled in Parliament, Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Arun Jaitley has gone on the offensive and called the Congress party’s bluff.

With the latest report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on Air Force, Performance Audit on “Capital Acquisition in Indian Air Force” tabled in Parliament, Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Arun Jaitley has gone on the offensive and called the Congress party’s bluff. He has tweeted "CAG report has completely vindicated the stand of NDA Government. It has blasted the big lie which was being spearheaded by the Congress." The CAG report says that the fly-away price of the Rafale jet is the same as agreed in 2007 by the UPA government for 126 aircraft deal, Compared to that deal, India could manage to save 17.08 per cent money for specific enhancements in the present 36 Rafale contract. The CAG report comes close on the heels of the huge Congress rally in Lucknow on January 11 to kickstart the party's election campaign for the coming Lok Sabha election. This rally was led by Congress President Rahul Gandhi, along with the two newly appointed general secretaries of the party, Rahul’s sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the scion of the erstwhile ruling family of Gwalior Jyotiraditya Scindia, both in-charge of Uttar Pradesh. The Congress President used the Lucknow rally to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi by calling him a thief. Armed with the 141-page CAG report, Jaitley has lashed out at the Congress President and said in a tweet: "The entire pricing argument was factually wrong. The Rs. 30,000 crore favour to a private company is non-existent. He has also reminded people how in 1989 when the Congress government headed by Rajeev Gandhi was mired in corruption, they had manufactured a Saint Kitts against VP Singh. Because Modi has a clean image they are manufacturing a crisis.... This is exactly the repetition of 1989.” When the Rafale deal is in focus, one should understand that acquisition by the Air Force has been disturbed for over 15 years. As a consequence of this, about a dozen Air Force squadrons had suffered depleting strength and there was an emergency-like situation. Hence for the sake of augmenting air power, there were negotiations and renegotiations for 2 squadrons on a priority basis leading to the Rafale deal. A lot of confusion has been created among the masses by the Congress party and the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance of opposition parties) about Rafale. People need to be told that Rs. 30,000 crore offset has not gone entirely to Reliance. In fact, Reliance, chosen directly by Dassault under the offset clause, is there only for manufacturing the cockpit assembly for Falcon jets and the Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL) has already completed the first cockpit front section for a Falcon 2000 at its Nagpur manufacturing facility. Also, the Congress leaders have been talking a lot about HAL not being brought in through the offset route for Rafale jets. In this regard, it is important to note that negotiations for Transfer of Technology (ToT) in the case of HAL had collapsed during the previous UPA regime and if negotiations were to start again, it would have taken another 2 to 3 years to arrive at an agreement. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra might be enthused by the huge turnout at Congress party’s Lucknow rally. But in the coming days, she will have to be ready to face a burst of salvos for standing by Robert Vadra, her husband, when he went to the Enforcement Directorate to answer queries during the investigation into the alleged acquisition of properties in London worth millions of British Pound. Her action by any standard goes against probity in public life. Priyanka would have risen in public esteem if she had detached herself and taken the stand that first her husband should get exonerated just as leaders, cutting across party lines, had done when they were roped in the Hawala scandal in the early ‘90s of the last Century. By not taking this position it is clear that in the case of the first family of the Congress party the family comes before the nation. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Congress must come clean on corruption charges against Robert Vadra first and then talk about Rafale deal

Union Minister <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/lies-of-mahajhootbandhan-stand-exposed-by-cag-report-on-rafale-says-jaitley-197100">Arun Jaitley </a>on Wednesday took a dig at the Congress over its constant attack on the Rafale deal.

Claiming that the party has ''vested interests'' in delaying the aircraft deal, Jaitley blamed the UPA government for compromising with the national security of the country.

He further hit out at the Congress and said that Rahul Gandhi had lied about the Rafale deal.

Jaitley said that the maintenance process of the aircraft&nbsp;is cheaper under the NDA government and&nbsp;the price was increased due to the addition of sophisticated equipment.

Citing the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/nda-rafale-deal-286-per-cent-cheaper-than-the-one-negotiated-upa-cag-197103">CAG report</a>, he said, "The report has completely vindicated stand of NDA government. It has blasted the big lie which was being spearheaded by the Congress."

He further said that the deal had received a satisfactory response from the Supreme Court and the CAG and that the&nbsp;matter does not end here.

"The matter doesn’t finish here, the people have to punish those who misled the country. This is exactly the repetition of 1989. In 1989 when the Congress government headed by Shri Rajeev Gandhi was mired in corruption, they manufactured a Saint Kitts against Mr VP Singh. Because Mr Modi has a clean image let us manufacture a crisis," he said.

Dismissing the reports of the government intervention in the deal he said, "In a consultation process, people are bound to express different views (MoD dissent note), that is how decisions take place, but ultimately the Government is one and final decision is taken. "

On reports of Congress' charge against CAG Mehrishi he said, "Congress stands for the destruction of institutions, they destroyed institutions during the emergency. No file or decision relating to any defence purchase, or Rafale in particular ever went to Rajiv Mehrishi(CAG) when he was Secy Economic Affairs for eleven months".

The Union Minister also assured that the delivery of the planes would be done faster. 
&nbsp;

Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday took a dig at the Congress over its constant attack on the Rafale deal. Claiming that the party has ''vested interests'' in delaying the aircraft deal, Jaitley blamed the UPA government for compromising with the national security of the country.

Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday took a dig at the Congress over its constant attack on the Rafale deal. Claiming that the party has ''vested interests'' in delaying the aircraft deal, Jaitley blamed the UPA government for compromising with the national security of the country. He further hit out at the Congress and said that Rahul Gandhi had lied about the Rafale deal. Jaitley said that the maintenance process of the aircraft is cheaper under the NDA government and the price was increased due to the addition of sophisticated equipment. Citing the CAG report, he said, "The report has completely vindicated stand of NDA government. It has blasted the big lie which was being spearheaded by the Congress." He further said that the deal had received a satisfactory response from the Supreme Court and the CAG and that the matter does not end here. "The matter doesn’t finish here, the people have to punish those who misled the country. This is exactly the repetition of 1989. In 1989 when the Congress government headed by Shri Rajeev Gandhi was mired in corruption, they manufactured a Saint Kitts against Mr VP Singh. Because Mr Modi has a clean image let us manufacture a crisis," he said. Dismissing the reports of the government intervention in the deal he said, "In a consultation process, people are bound to express different views (MoD dissent note), that is how decisions take place, but ultimately the Government is one and final decision is taken. " On reports of Congress' charge against CAG Mehrishi he said, "Congress stands for the destruction of institutions, they destroyed institutions during the emergency. No file or decision relating to any defence purchase, or Rafale in particular ever went to Rajiv Mehrishi(CAG) when he was Secy Economic Affairs for eleven months". The Union Minister also assured that the delivery of the planes would be done faster.

Government stand vindicated, says Arun Jaitley on Rafale deal

The government is scheduled to table the CAG report on <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rafale-deal-modi-government-followed-upas-policy-on-inter-governmental-agreements-196598">Rafale jet fighter deal</a>, which has generated a massive political controversy, in Parliament Tuesday, sources said.

The government's decision to buy <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-should-answer-if-rafale-deal-meant-to-strengthen-iaf-or-industrialist-shiv-sena-196220">36 Rafale fighter jets</a> 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 CAG report will be tabled on Tuesday, a day before the end of the present Lok Sabha session. This is the last session of the 16th Lok Sabha as the general elections are due in April-May.

Former minister and senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Sunday alleged conflict of interest and asked the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Rajiv Mehrishi to recuse himself from auditing the deal as he was the finance secretary when the deal was negotiated.

Union Minister Arun Jaitley, however, rebutted the claims of Sibal saying that the Congress was casting aspersions on the institution of CAG based on "falsehood".

"Another attack on the institution of CAG by the 'Institution wreckers' based on falsehood. After ten years in Government former UPA ministers still don't know that Finance Secretary is only a designation given to the senior-most secretary in the finance ministry," Jaitley said a series of tweets Sunday.

Sibal said Mehrishi was the finance secretary from October 24, 2014, to August 30, 2015, and in between Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Paris on April 10, 2015 and announced the signing of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/it-is-based-on-fudged-arithmetic-jaitley-dismisses-report-of-rafale-price-escalation-191327">Rafale deal</a>.

"...Finance Ministry plays an important role in these negotiations...Now it is clear that the Rafale deal happened under Rajiv Mehrishi. Now he is CAG. We met him twice on September 19 and October 4, 2018. We told him about the scam. We told him that the deal should be probed because it is corrupt. But how can he initiate a probe against himself," Sibal had said.

The Rafale issue was 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.

The government is scheduled to table the CAG report on Rafale jet fighter deal, which has generated a massive political controversy, in Parliament Tuesday, sources said.

The government is scheduled to table the CAG report on Rafale jet fighter deal, which has generated a massive political controversy, in Parliament Tuesday, sources said. 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 CAG report will be tabled on Tuesday, a day before the end of the present Lok Sabha session. This is the last session of the 16th Lok Sabha as the general elections are due in April-May. Former minister and senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Sunday alleged conflict of interest and asked the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Rajiv Mehrishi to recuse himself from auditing the deal as he was the finance secretary when the deal was negotiated. Union Minister Arun Jaitley, however, rebutted the claims of Sibal saying that the Congress was casting aspersions on the institution of CAG based on "falsehood". "Another attack on the institution of CAG by the 'Institution wreckers' based on falsehood. After ten years in Government former UPA ministers still don't know that Finance Secretary is only a designation given to the senior-most secretary in the finance ministry," Jaitley said a series of tweets Sunday. Sibal said Mehrishi was the finance secretary from October 24, 2014, to August 30, 2015, and in between Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Paris on April 10, 2015 and announced the signing of the Rafale deal. "...Finance Ministry plays an important role in these negotiations...Now it is clear that the Rafale deal happened under Rajiv Mehrishi. Now he is CAG. We met him twice on September 19 and October 4, 2018. We told him about the scam. We told him that the deal should be probed because it is corrupt. But how can he initiate a probe against himself," Sibal had said. The Rafale issue was 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.

Government to table CAG report on Rafale deal in Parliament Tuesday

At a time when the Narendra Modi government is under attack over the Rafale deal, it is emerging that the policy for signing inter-governmental agreements without "classically" following the Standard Operating Procedure or Standard Contract Document was laid down by the previous Congress-led UPA government in 2013.

The Indian negotiating team, which firmed up the deal for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft from French company Dassault through an inter-governmental agreement, followed that policy of the UPA government, top official sources said in Delhi on Monday.

In 2013, the UPA government came up with a new policy which allows the Defence Ministry to not follow the laid down rules and sign inter-governmental agreements with friendly foreign countries as per mutually agreed provisions between both sides.

"There may be occasions when procurements would have to be done from friendly foreign countries which may be necessitated due to geo-strategic advantages that are likely to accrue to our country. Such procurements would not classically follow the Standard Procurement Procedure and the Standard Contract Document but would be based on mutually agreed provisions by the Governments of both the countries. Such procurements will be done based on an Inter-Governmental Agreement after clearance from CFA (Competent Financial Authority)," the para 71 of the Defence Procurement Procedure, 2013 clarifies.

The sources said the Indian Negotiation Team in the Rafale deal had relied on these provisions of the DPP-2013 while finalising the contract for the combat aircraft.

The DPP-2013 came into force in 2013 when the UPA government was in power and AK Antony was the Defence Minister.

Media reports have targeted the NDA government for deviating from the standard clauses in the defence procurement procedure while signing the Rafale deal including the anti-corruption clauses that are applied to private contractors.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

At a time when the Narendra Modi government is under attack over the Rafale deal, it is emerging that the policy for signing inter-governmental agreements without "classically" following the Standard Operating Procedure or Standard Contract Document was laid down by the previous Congress-led UPA government in 2013.

At a time when the Narendra Modi government is under attack over the Rafale deal, it is emerging that the policy for signing inter-governmental agreements without "classically" following the Standard Operating Procedure or Standard Contract Document was laid down by the previous Congress-led UPA government in 2013. The Indian negotiating team, which firmed up the deal for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft from French company Dassault through an inter-governmental agreement, followed that policy of the UPA government, top official sources said in Delhi on Monday. In 2013, the UPA government came up with a new policy which allows the Defence Ministry to not follow the laid down rules and sign inter-governmental agreements with friendly foreign countries as per mutually agreed provisions between both sides. "There may be occasions when procurements would have to be done from friendly foreign countries which may be necessitated due to geo-strategic advantages that are likely to accrue to our country. Such procurements would not classically follow the Standard Procurement Procedure and the Standard Contract Document but would be based on mutually agreed provisions by the Governments of both the countries. Such procurements will be done based on an Inter-Governmental Agreement after clearance from CFA (Competent Financial Authority)," the para 71 of the Defence Procurement Procedure, 2013 clarifies. The sources said the Indian Negotiation Team in the Rafale deal had relied on these provisions of the DPP-2013 while finalising the contract for the combat aircraft. The DPP-2013 came into force in 2013 when the UPA government was in power and AK Antony was the Defence Minister. Media reports have targeted the NDA government for deviating from the standard clauses in the defence procurement procedure while signing the Rafale deal including the anti-corruption clauses that are applied to private contractors.

Modi government followed UPA's policy on inter-governmental agreements: Official sources on Rafale deal

The Shiv Sena Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should answer whether the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/over-reaction-nothing-to-worry-said-manohar-parrikar-on-defence-ministrys-dissent-note-on-rafale-deal-196056">Rafale deal</a> was meant to strengthen the Air Force or a financially-troubled industrialist.

The party's remarks came after a report in The Hindu newspaper Friday claimed that the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rafale-issue-sitharaman-terms-news-item-distorted-wonders-if-doubts-are-being-created-deliberately-196122">Defence Ministry </a>had raised strong objections to "parallel discussions" conducted by the PMO during the negotiations over the Rs 59,000 crore Rafale deal between India and France.

The Sena, in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana' said Modi gave a speech on "patriotism" in Parliament on Thursday and defended the deal. "But the very next day, the 'black page' (document) came out, which silenced those raising patriotic slogans and thumping benches in the House," it said.

Without naming anyone, the Shiv Sena said that Modi was expected to answer if the deal was finalised to strengthen the Air Force or a financially-troubled industrialist.

Referring to Congress president Rahul Gandhi's constant criticism of the government on the Rafale issue, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party also asked why the opposition should be blamed for it.

"The opponents may perish (politically), but truth will stay alive," it said.

"The prime minister made the oft-repeated allegation (in Parliament) that the Congress does not want strengthening of the defence services. And the next day, documents surface, showing how extreme Modi's personal interest in the deal was. What to make out of it?" the Sena asked.

"Modi was directly 'dealing' in the Rafale transactions. Key people like defence minister, defence secretary were kept away from it. Modi himself took decisions on issues like prices of Rafale (planes) and who would get its contract. Hence, he will have to face allegations and criticism," it claimed.

"How does seeking explanations on issues of national security become criticism of the country," the party asked.

Modi had Thursday said in Parliament that the opposition could criticise him and the BJP, but not the nation over the issue.

The Sena on Saturday further alleged that the definitions of nationalism and patriotism stood "changed" under the current BJP-led regime.

"Those who sing paeans of Rafale deal are patriots, while those raising questions about its pricing are being labelled as traitors now," it claimed.

The BJP's warring ally added that people of the country would keep asking questions till they get a satisfactory answer on why a plane costing Rs 500 crore was bought at Rs 1,600 crore.

It also said that Modi had ruled the country single-handedly for the past four-and-half years. "Yet, blaming the Congress for issues such as price rise and corruption is akin to shrouding own (the government's) failures," it said.

The Shiv Sena Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should answer whether the Rafale deal was meant to strengthen the Air Force or a financially-troubled industrialist.

The Shiv Sena Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should answer whether the Rafale deal was meant to strengthen the Air Force or a financially-troubled industrialist. The party's remarks came after a report in The Hindu newspaper Friday claimed that the Defence Ministry had raised strong objections to "parallel discussions" conducted by the PMO during the negotiations over the Rs 59,000 crore Rafale deal between India and France. The Sena, in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana' said Modi gave a speech on "patriotism" in Parliament on Thursday and defended the deal. "But the very next day, the 'black page' (document) came out, which silenced those raising patriotic slogans and thumping benches in the House," it said. Without naming anyone, the Shiv Sena said that Modi was expected to answer if the deal was finalised to strengthen the Air Force or a financially-troubled industrialist. Referring to Congress president Rahul Gandhi's constant criticism of the government on the Rafale issue, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party also asked why the opposition should be blamed for it. "The opponents may perish (politically), but truth will stay alive," it said. "The prime minister made the oft-repeated allegation (in Parliament) that the Congress does not want strengthening of the defence services. And the next day, documents surface, showing how extreme Modi's personal interest in the deal was. What to make out of it?" the Sena asked. "Modi was directly 'dealing' in the Rafale transactions. Key people like defence minister, defence secretary were kept away from it. Modi himself took decisions on issues like prices of Rafale (planes) and who would get its contract. Hence, he will have to face allegations and criticism," it claimed. "How does seeking explanations on issues of national security become criticism of the country," the party asked. Modi had Thursday said in Parliament that the opposition could criticise him and the BJP, but not the nation over the issue. The Sena on Saturday further alleged that the definitions of nationalism and patriotism stood "changed" under the current BJP-led regime. "Those who sing paeans of Rafale deal are patriots, while those raising questions about its pricing are being labelled as traitors now," it claimed. The BJP's warring ally added that people of the country would keep asking questions till they get a satisfactory answer on why a plane costing Rs 500 crore was bought at Rs 1,600 crore. It also said that Modi had ruled the country single-handedly for the past four-and-half years. "Yet, blaming the Congress for issues such as price rise and corruption is akin to shrouding own (the government's) failures," it said.

PM should answer if Rafale deal meant to strengthen IAF or industrialist: Shiv Sena

A combative Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday termed as “incomplete” and “distorted” the news item published by a newspaper about “parallel negotiations” by the PMO in the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/over-reaction-nothing-to-worry-said-manohar-parrikar-on-defence-ministrys-dissent-note-on-rafale-deal-196056">Rafale fighter deal </a>and wondered whether “doubts” were being deliberated created in the minds of people because of some “corporate warfare”.

In an exclusive interview to ANI in Delhi, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/opposition-flogging-a-dead-horse-says-sitharaman-after-uproar-in-parliament-over-rafale-196013">Sitharaman slammed Congress</a> President Rahul Gandhi for constantly raising questions over the Rafale deal, equating him to a “parrot” and asked what “moral authority” he has to do so when he, along with his mother Sonia Gandhi and brother-in-law Robert Vadra are on bail.

She asserted that it is the duty of the Prime Minister to monitor progress in any deal or project and if the PMO checks on these, it cannot be termed as “interference”.

Referring to the news item which appeared in a newspaper on Friday, Sitharaman alleged that it was “half truth, with the intention ... to create doubt in the minds of the reader.”

The minister questioned whether it was not the “responsibility” of the journalist to try to get complete details or get response from the ministry before publishing the item. Even if there was no response, an attempt could have been made, she added.

She said that while publishing the file notings of an officer of the Defence Ministry, the journalist should have looked for the response of the Defence Minister “But what they have done in publishing the item is not a complete job,” Sitharaman said.

She said it was her “suspicion and I have reason to suspect” that publication of the news item was “an attempt by some people, either by doing themselves, or whether because of corporate warfare that is going on.”

Rejecting the contention about “interference” by the PMO, the Defence Minister said any PMO, not just under NarendraModi, would “naturally monitor” the progress of any deal or even programmes like AyushmanBharat.

“The Prime Minister is the first among equals (in a Cabinet) and if PMO checks on a ministry, it is not interference.... If the PMO is asking what is the status (of a project), it is not interference,” Sitharaman underlined.

She then went on to attack the Congress, questioning the role of National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi when Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister.

“If this (PMO asking about progress of a project) is seen as interference, I ask the Congress, what was the NAC under Sonia Gandhi.... What was its role? They were not under PMO or Cabinet Secretariat?.. &nbsp;Did it have any statutory status.... It was remote-controlling the PM. Was it not interference?” 
To a question, he equated Gandhi to a “parrot” which keeps repeating something and said “You can wake up someone who is sleeping but not someone who pretends to sleep.”

Targeting Gandhi, she asked, “Why is he on bail? Why is his mother on bail? Why is his brother-in-law on bail? How has he moral authority to question the PM?”

Referring to the Congress President’s press conference held this morning, Sitharaman said, “See how he is provoking the armed forces.... What was his language at the press conference. Nobody asked him what kind of language are you using? ... Are you provoking the armed forces?”

She said Modi monitors projects even at district level, earlier as Gujarat Chief Minister and now as Prime Minister.

“Otherwise, you think progress could have been made at this speed, without corruption, without middlemen? ...He monitors and ensures implementation of decisions,” Sitharaman said.

Asked whether she, as Defence Minister, was worried as letters about Rafale deal were getting leaked.In response, she said, “I am not worried about Rafale or any other decision we have taken, because we have gone on merit... But through selective leaking, distorted versions, false impression is created.”

A combative Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday termed as “incomplete” and “distorted” the news item published by a newspaper about “parallel negotiations” by the PMO in the Rafale fighter deal and wondered whether “doubts” were being deliberated created in the minds of people because of some “corporate warfare”.

A combative Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday termed as “incomplete” and “distorted” the news item published by a newspaper about “parallel negotiations” by the PMO in the Rafale fighter deal and wondered whether “doubts” were being deliberated created in the minds of people because of some “corporate warfare”. In an exclusive interview to ANI in Delhi, Sitharaman slammed Congress President Rahul Gandhi for constantly raising questions over the Rafale deal, equating him to a “parrot” and asked what “moral authority” he has to do so when he, along with his mother Sonia Gandhi and brother-in-law Robert Vadra are on bail. She asserted that it is the duty of the Prime Minister to monitor progress in any deal or project and if the PMO checks on these, it cannot be termed as “interference”. Referring to the news item which appeared in a newspaper on Friday, Sitharaman alleged that it was “half truth, with the intention ... to create doubt in the minds of the reader.” The minister questioned whether it was not the “responsibility” of the journalist to try to get complete details or get response from the ministry before publishing the item. Even if there was no response, an attempt could have been made, she added. She said that while publishing the file notings of an officer of the Defence Ministry, the journalist should have looked for the response of the Defence Minister “But what they have done in publishing the item is not a complete job,” Sitharaman said. She said it was her “suspicion and I have reason to suspect” that publication of the news item was “an attempt by some people, either by doing themselves, or whether because of corporate warfare that is going on.” Rejecting the contention about “interference” by the PMO, the Defence Minister said any PMO, not just under NarendraModi, would “naturally monitor” the progress of any deal or even programmes like AyushmanBharat. “The Prime Minister is the first among equals (in a Cabinet) and if PMO checks on a ministry, it is not interference.... If the PMO is asking what is the status (of a project), it is not interference,” Sitharaman underlined. She then went on to attack the Congress, questioning the role of National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi when Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister. “If this (PMO asking about progress of a project) is seen as interference, I ask the Congress, what was the NAC under Sonia Gandhi.... What was its role? They were not under PMO or Cabinet Secretariat?.. Did it have any statutory status.... It was remote-controlling the PM. Was it not interference?” To a question, he equated Gandhi to a “parrot” which keeps repeating something and said “You can wake up someone who is sleeping but not someone who pretends to sleep.” Targeting Gandhi, she asked, “Why is he on bail? Why is his mother on bail? Why is his brother-in-law on bail? How has he moral authority to question the PM?” Referring to the Congress President’s press conference held this morning, Sitharaman said, “See how he is provoking the armed forces.... What was his language at the press conference. Nobody asked him what kind of language are you using? ... Are you provoking the armed forces?” She said Modi monitors projects even at district level, earlier as Gujarat Chief Minister and now as Prime Minister. “Otherwise, you think progress could have been made at this speed, without corruption, without middlemen? ...He monitors and ensures implementation of decisions,” Sitharaman said. Asked whether she, as Defence Minister, was worried as letters about Rafale deal were getting leaked.In response, she said, “I am not worried about Rafale or any other decision we have taken, because we have gone on merit... But through selective leaking, distorted versions, false impression is created.”

He has no moral authority to question PM while being on bail himself: Sitharaman slams Rahul Gandhi

France and Germany will on Wednesday announce a 65 million euro ($74 million) contract financed equally by both countries over two years as the first act of the joint programme to design a next-generation combat jet, a French army source and two other sources familiar with the matter said.

Dassault Aviation and Airbus, which will build the jet that is expected to replace Dassault's Rafale and Germany's Eurofighters by 2024, will start work on the concept and architectures of the program, the source said.

The French and German governments are expected to award the companies involved additional contracts to advance technologies and work on demonstrators this summer.

French President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-condemns-macron-plan-for-national-day-marking-armenian-genocide-195576">Emmanuel Macron</a> and German Chancellor Angela Merkel first announced plans in July 2017 for the new Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which will include a fighter jet and a range of associated weapons, including drones.

After nearly two years of preparatory work by the companies involved, Wednesday's agreements and contract signing will pave the way for the programme to begin in earnest.

The initial contracts being signed on Wednesday will run for two years, the sources said.

Airbus and Dassault have been waiting for initial contracts to be signed to start work on the new project.

France's Safran and Germany's MTU Aero Engines are expected to join forces to develop the engine for the new warplane, while French electronics firm Thales and European missile maker MBDA would also participate.

French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly and German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen will preside over the signing ceremony at a Safran site in northeastern Paris on Wednesday.

Germany removed a key obstacle to progress on the project last week when it bowed to French demands and excluded Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth fighter from a multibillion-euro tender to replace ageing Tornado fighter jets that are fitted to carry US nuclear weapons.

Paris, Germany's closest European partner, had warned that buying the F-35, in particular, would derail plans to develop the new Franco-German fighter by 2040 since it would constitute a potential competitor to that project.

France and Germany will add Spain as a full partner in the programme this summer, sources told Reuters in December.

Britain, which is due to exit the European Union in March, unveiled its own rival aircraft development programme, dubbed Tempest, at the Farnborough Air Show in July.

European military and industry executives say they believe the two programmes could and should eventually be merged given the need to compete internationally and the many billions of euros needed to develop a new combat aircraft.

The French army source said France and Germany were open to more European partners joining the programme.

Germany's embargo on arms sales to Saudi Arabia has been a source of friction with France, which has been unable to deliver Meteor missiles built for Saudi Arabia by MBDA, sources said.&nbsp;

France and Germany will on Wednesday announce a 65 million euro ($74 million) contract financed equally by both countries over two years as the first act of the joint programme to design a next-generation combat jet, a French army source and two other sources familiar with the matter said.

France and Germany will on Wednesday announce a 65 million euro ($74 million) contract financed equally by both countries over two years as the first act of the joint programme to design a next-generation combat jet, a French army source and two other sources familiar with the matter said. Dassault Aviation and Airbus, which will build the jet that is expected to replace Dassault's Rafale and Germany's Eurofighters by 2024, will start work on the concept and architectures of the program, the source said. The French and German governments are expected to award the companies involved additional contracts to advance technologies and work on demonstrators this summer. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel first announced plans in July 2017 for the new Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which will include a fighter jet and a range of associated weapons, including drones. After nearly two years of preparatory work by the companies involved, Wednesday's agreements and contract signing will pave the way for the programme to begin in earnest. The initial contracts being signed on Wednesday will run for two years, the sources said. Airbus and Dassault have been waiting for initial contracts to be signed to start work on the new project. France's Safran and Germany's MTU Aero Engines are expected to join forces to develop the engine for the new warplane, while French electronics firm Thales and European missile maker MBDA would also participate. French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly and German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen will preside over the signing ceremony at a Safran site in northeastern Paris on Wednesday. Germany removed a key obstacle to progress on the project last week when it bowed to French demands and excluded Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth fighter from a multibillion-euro tender to replace ageing Tornado fighter jets that are fitted to carry US nuclear weapons. Paris, Germany's closest European partner, had warned that buying the F-35, in particular, would derail plans to develop the new Franco-German fighter by 2040 since it would constitute a potential competitor to that project. France and Germany will add Spain as a full partner in the programme this summer, sources told Reuters in December. Britain, which is due to exit the European Union in March, unveiled its own rival aircraft development programme, dubbed Tempest, at the Farnborough Air Show in July. European military and industry executives say they believe the two programmes could and should eventually be merged given the need to compete internationally and the many billions of euros needed to develop a new combat aircraft. The French army source said France and Germany were open to more European partners joining the programme. Germany's embargo on arms sales to Saudi Arabia has been a source of friction with France, which has been unable to deliver Meteor missiles built for Saudi Arabia by MBDA, sources said.

France and Germany to launch first contracts on future combat jets

In a counter attack to Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cable-stayed-atal-setu-inaugurated-on-mandovi-river-in-goa-193229">Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar </a>accused him of using his courtesy visit to him for petty political gains.

In a letter addressed to Rahul Gandhi, Parrikar wrote, "I feel let down that you have used this visit for your petty political gains. In the five minutes you spent with me, neither did you mention anything about Rafale, now did we discuss anything related to it.'

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Goa CM Manohar Parrikar writes to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, writes "I feel let down that you have used this visit for your petty political gains. In the 5 minutes you spent with me, neither did you mention anything about Rafale, now did we discuss anything related to it.' <a href="https://t.co/HbUX6yiDk3">pic.twitter.com/HbUX6yiDk3</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1090565906227490817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Parrikar's response to Rahul Gandhi came after the Congress president claimed that the former <a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hows-the-josh-asks-nirmala-sitharaman-as-she-watches-uri-the-surgical-strike-193514">defence minister</a> told him in a meeting that he was not consulted&nbsp;before his party changed the&nbsp;Rafale deal.

Rahul, who was on a private visit to Goa, met the Chief Minister on Tuesday.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi says "Main kal Parrikar ji se mila tha. Parrikar ji ne swayam kaha tha ki deal badalte seamay PM ne Hindustan ke Defence Minister se nahi poocha tha." <a href="https://t.co/adgAV0SKhU">pic.twitter.com/adgAV0SKhU</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1090552279260901377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
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He further attacked the former defence minister and said that Parrikar was trying to please PM Modi.

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Rahul Gandhi: Ek taraf Parrikar ji cabinet meeting mein kehte hain ki mere paas Rafale hawai jahaz ki file padi hui hai, mujhe Goa se koi nahi hata sakta. Unka mantri journalist se telephone pe baat karta hai. Modi ji Parrikar ki khush karne ki koshish karte hain. <a href="https://t.co/z6HGD5UuUy">pic.twitter.com/z6HGD5UuUy</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1090562202040360960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Parrikar, who is suffering from a pancreatic ailment, presented a revenue surplus state budget sitting on his chair in the state Assembly, with a tube inserted through his nose.

Parrikar tabled the budget which has total gross budgetary expenditure, including power purchase of Rs 19,548.69 crore as against Rs 17,123.98 crore for 2018-19, an increase of 14.16 per cent over last year, PTI reported.

Launching a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale jet deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Wednesday alleged that he "sold" the Indian Air Force and "stole" opportunities of the youth by giving away Rs 30,000 crore to his "friend" and businessman Anil Ambani.

He said the prime minister spoke for one and a half hours in Parliament but when asked questions on Rafale, he could not look in the eye and kept looking elsewhere.

The government, as well as Ambani, have strongly denied any wrongdoing in the Rafale deal.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

In a counter attack to Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar accused him of using his courtesy visit to him for petty political gains.

In a counter attack to Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar accused him of using his courtesy visit to him for petty political gains. In a letter addressed to Rahul Gandhi, Parrikar wrote, "I feel let down that you have used this visit for your petty political gains. In the five minutes you spent with me, neither did you mention anything about Rafale, now did we discuss anything related to it.' Goa CM Manohar Parrikar writes to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, writes "I feel let down that you have used this visit for your petty political gains. In the 5 minutes you spent with me, neither did you mention anything about Rafale, now did we discuss anything related to it.' pic.twitter.com/HbUX6yiDk3 — ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2019 × Parrikar's response to Rahul Gandhi came after the Congress president claimed that the former defence minister told him in a meeting that he was not consulted before his party changed the Rafale deal. Rahul, who was on a private visit to Goa, met the Chief Minister on Tuesday. #WATCH Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi says "Main kal Parrikar ji se mila tha. Parrikar ji ne swayam kaha tha ki deal badalte seamay PM ne Hindustan ke Defence Minister se nahi poocha tha." pic.twitter.com/adgAV0SKhU — ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2019 × He further attacked the former defence minister and said that Parrikar was trying to please PM Modi. Rahul Gandhi: Ek taraf Parrikar ji cabinet meeting mein kehte hain ki mere paas Rafale hawai jahaz ki file padi hui hai, mujhe Goa se koi nahi hata sakta. Unka mantri journalist se telephone pe baat karta hai. Modi ji Parrikar ki khush karne ki koshish karte hain. pic.twitter.com/z6HGD5UuUy — ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2019 × Parrikar, who is suffering from a pancreatic ailment, presented a revenue surplus state budget sitting on his chair in the state Assembly, with a tube inserted through his nose. Parrikar tabled the budget which has total gross budgetary expenditure, including power purchase of Rs 19,548.69 crore as against Rs 17,123.98 crore for 2018-19, an increase of 14.16 per cent over last year, PTI reported. Launching a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale jet deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Wednesday alleged that he "sold" the Indian Air Force and "stole" opportunities of the youth by giving away Rs 30,000 crore to his "friend" and businessman Anil Ambani. He said the prime minister spoke for one and a half hours in Parliament but when asked questions on Rafale, he could not look in the eye and kept looking elsewhere. The government, as well as Ambani, have strongly denied any wrongdoing in the Rafale deal. (With inputs from agencies)

No talks of Rafale with Rahul Gandhi: Manohar Parrikar

On the face of it, two recent Supreme Court judgements of significance have gone opposite ways for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi certainly gave something that looked like a clean chit for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party when he observed that he found nothing amiss in the confidential details of the pricing of the Rafale fighter jet contract with France's Dassault group, much to the dismay of opposition parties.&nbsp;

In the same court, Justice Dhananjaya Chandrachud seemed to strike a blow to conservative Hindu lobbies that support the BJP when he and his fellow judges ruled that women of reproductive age should no longer be barred from entering the holy shrine to Lord Ayyappan at Sabarimala in Kerala.

However, after seeing violent protests in Kerala last week following the surreptitious entry of some activist women into the Sabarimala temple, I am tempted to think that both the Supreme Court judgements are blessings for the BJP. Here's why.

The Rafale ruling - I hesitate to call it a judgement - took the winds off the sails of the Congress-led opposition in what I would call the urban middle-class constituency. For any party to govern, it is not just enough to win elections. It is also important to get a measure of legitimacy in the urban middle class because it serves as a centre from which thoughts emanate and go back. This is the same social class that produces civil servants, media persons and jurists.

I do believe Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress lost the 1989 elections because he alienated the urban middle class as the BJP and other parties including the Janata Dal led by former Congress finance minister VP Singh successfully drove home the image that the party was lax on corruption and could even be a party to it.

As Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman thundered last week in Parliament in a spirited defence of the Rafale deal, the backing she got from the Supreme Court was such that at the very least, the furore against the BJP's decision to cut down the number of jets and pay a higher price for each in order to fit them with advanced combat capabilities was blunted.

Cut now to Sabarimala in Kerala. You need to look no further than Shashi Tharoor, a poster boy for Westernised, modern urban liberals. Tharoor's position on the temple tilts to the centre at the very least as he cluck-clucks in sympathy with those who want a traditional form of worship that barred women of reproductive age from entering the shrine upheld. The reasons he cited are based on faith, not the kind of egalitarianism that he otherwise espouses. The former UN under-secretary-general is now a grassroots politician for the Congress in Thiruvananthapuram and also recently authored a book, 'Why I Am A Hindu'.

It is clear to me, as it is to him and many Congress leaders, that it is important to stress that they are not anti-Hindu. The BJP has successfully built a narrative of Hinduism being challenged both politically and judicially. Whether its critics like it or not, both Kerala and neighbouring Tamil Nadu have entered the era of what I call post-poverty politics. Cultural issues are increasingly important. The Sabarimala shrine is also popular among Tamilians, &nbsp;thousands of whom make the annual pilgrimage to the mountain temple of Lord Ayyappan across the border. I do believe both Kerala and Tamil Nadu now have a larger Hindutva constituency and the BJP is a political gainer from the Sabarimala protests. In that sense, the Supreme Court verdict is a left-handed (no pun intended) compliment to the BJP's ideological moorings.

The BJP has had no significant presence in either Tamil Nadu or Kerala and has a long way to go in both states. However, the rise of Hindu customs and beliefs has been steady in Tamil Nadu, slowly eclipsing the rationalist, atheist Dravida ideology championed by 'Periyar' EV Ramaswamy Naicker, whose Dravida Kazhagam gave rise to the DMK and the AIADMK.

AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa wore her Hindu beliefs on her sleeves as Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister. Tamil Nadu is gossiping about the recent visit to Varanasi by Durga Stalin, the wife of MK Stalin, the president of the DMK. Stalin has been named after one of the world's biggest communist icons. Interesting, isn't it?

At another level, the BJP is more or less in bed with a number of AIADMK functionaries or groups. We have to watch that space as general elections draw near. My guess is that the BJP has found itself a beachhead in Tamil Nadu, something it could barely dream of two decades ago.

Interestingly, the last word is not yet out on both the Supreme Court rulings as both cases have review petitions pending before the highest court of the land. For all we know, there could be twists in the tale. But I do believe the advantage now rests with the BJP. There is a delicious irony in this because Modi's party appears to be gaining in the south, where it was once considered non-existent, while its position is not as secure in the north as it was thought to be. But then, that is another story.&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on Zee News. Read the <a href="http://zeenews.india.com/blogs/supreme-court-verdicts-on-sabarimala-and-rafale-are-blessings-for-bjps-political-agenda-2169283.html">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

On the face of it, two recent Supreme Court judgements of significance have gone opposite ways for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi certainly gave something that looked like a clean chit for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party when he observed that he found nothing amiss in the confidential details of the pricing of the Rafale fighter jet contract with France's Dassault group, much to the dismay of opposition parties.

On the face of it, two recent Supreme Court judgements of significance have gone opposite ways for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi certainly gave something that looked like a clean chit for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party when he observed that he found nothing amiss in the confidential details of the pricing of the Rafale fighter jet contract with France's Dassault group, much to the dismay of opposition parties. In the same court, Justice Dhananjaya Chandrachud seemed to strike a blow to conservative Hindu lobbies that support the BJP when he and his fellow judges ruled that women of reproductive age should no longer be barred from entering the holy shrine to Lord Ayyappan at Sabarimala in Kerala. However, after seeing violent protests in Kerala last week following the surreptitious entry of some activist women into the Sabarimala temple, I am tempted to think that both the Supreme Court judgements are blessings for the BJP. Here's why. The Rafale ruling - I hesitate to call it a judgement - took the winds off the sails of the Congress-led opposition in what I would call the urban middle-class constituency. For any party to govern, it is not just enough to win elections. It is also important to get a measure of legitimacy in the urban middle class because it serves as a centre from which thoughts emanate and go back. This is the same social class that produces civil servants, media persons and jurists. I do believe Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress lost the 1989 elections because he alienated the urban middle class as the BJP and other parties including the Janata Dal led by former Congress finance minister VP Singh successfully drove home the image that the party was lax on corruption and could even be a party to it. As Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman thundered last week in Parliament in a spirited defence of the Rafale deal, the backing she got from the Supreme Court was such that at the very least, the furore against the BJP's decision to cut down the number of jets and pay a higher price for each in order to fit them with advanced combat capabilities was blunted. Cut now to Sabarimala in Kerala. You need to look no further than Shashi Tharoor, a poster boy for Westernised, modern urban liberals. Tharoor's position on the temple tilts to the centre at the very least as he cluck-clucks in sympathy with those who want a traditional form of worship that barred women of reproductive age from entering the shrine upheld. The reasons he cited are based on faith, not the kind of egalitarianism that he otherwise espouses. The former UN under-secretary-general is now a grassroots politician for the Congress in Thiruvananthapuram and also recently authored a book, 'Why I Am A Hindu'. It is clear to me, as it is to him and many Congress leaders, that it is important to stress that they are not anti-Hindu. The BJP has successfully built a narrative of Hinduism being challenged both politically and judicially. Whether its critics like it or not, both Kerala and neighbouring Tamil Nadu have entered the era of what I call post-poverty politics. Cultural issues are increasingly important. The Sabarimala shrine is also popular among Tamilians, thousands of whom make the annual pilgrimage to the mountain temple of Lord Ayyappan across the border. I do believe both Kerala and Tamil Nadu now have a larger Hindutva constituency and the BJP is a political gainer from the Sabarimala protests. In that sense, the Supreme Court verdict is a left-handed (no pun intended) compliment to the BJP's ideological moorings. The BJP has had no significant presence in either Tamil Nadu or Kerala and has a long way to go in both states. However, the rise of Hindu customs and beliefs has been steady in Tamil Nadu, slowly eclipsing the rationalist, atheist Dravida ideology championed by 'Periyar' EV Ramaswamy Naicker, whose Dravida Kazhagam gave rise to the DMK and the AIADMK. AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa wore her Hindu beliefs on her sleeves as Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister. Tamil Nadu is gossiping about the recent visit to Varanasi by Durga Stalin, the wife of MK Stalin, the president of the DMK. Stalin has been named after one of the world's biggest communist icons. Interesting, isn't it? At another level, the BJP is more or less in bed with a number of AIADMK functionaries or groups. We have to watch that space as general elections draw near. My guess is that the BJP has found itself a beachhead in Tamil Nadu, something it could barely dream of two decades ago. Interestingly, the last word is not yet out on both the Supreme Court rulings as both cases have review petitions pending before the highest court of the land. For all we know, there could be twists in the tale. But I do believe the advantage now rests with the BJP. There is a delicious irony in this because Modi's party appears to be gaining in the south, where it was once considered non-existent, while its position is not as secure in the north as it was thought to be. But then, that is another story. (This article was originally published on Zee News. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Supreme Court verdicts on Sabarimala and Rafale are blessings for BJP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday defended the introduction of the 10 per cent quota for the general category poor in jobs and education, even as he asked the Congress to clarify what was driving its ongoing allegations on the Rafale fighter jet deal.&nbsp;

Addressing a public rally after launching a slew of infra projects here, Modi said the smooth passage of the bill which provides 10 per cent quota for the general category poor in jobs and education in the Lok Sabha is a strong answer by the Parliament to those spreading lies.

Hoping the Rajya Sabha will pass the Bill Wednesday, Modi said the rights of deprived sections, including Dalits and tribals, won’t be affected because of this bill. He termed the passage of the bill in the Lok Sabha as a historic step aimed at uplifting the deprived sections.&nbsp;

On the passage of the Citizenship Bill, seeking to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Modi assured people of Assam and North East that their rights will not be curtailed in any way through the bill’s provisions.

Modi indicated that alleged middleman Christian Michel, arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, was lobbying for French manufacturer Rafale’s rivals in the multi-role aircraft deal. The onus is on the Congress to come clean on what is driving its allegations on the (Rafale) deal, he said.

Citing media reports, Modi said Michel was lobbying for “some other contender” as well. Congress should answer which leader of their party, now shouting about this (Rafale deal), has a connection with Michel, he said. Modi said the ‘chowkidar’ (watchdog), has embarked on a campaign to root-out corruption cannot be bought or scared and will continue with his work relentlessly.

The ‘chowkidar’ can pick a wrongdoer even in darkness, he added. Modi launched four-laning of Solapur-Osmanabad section of NH-211, underground sewerage system and three sewage treatment plants and also laid the foundation stone of 30,000 houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday defended the introduction of the 10 per cent quota for the general category poor in jobs and education, even as he asked the Congress to clarify what was driving its ongoing allegations on the Rafale fighter jet deal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday defended the introduction of the 10 per cent quota for the general category poor in jobs and education, even as he asked the Congress to clarify what was driving its ongoing allegations on the Rafale fighter jet deal. Addressing a public rally after launching a slew of infra projects here, Modi said the smooth passage of the bill which provides 10 per cent quota for the general category poor in jobs and education in the Lok Sabha is a strong answer by the Parliament to those spreading lies. Hoping the Rajya Sabha will pass the Bill Wednesday, Modi said the rights of deprived sections, including Dalits and tribals, won’t be affected because of this bill. He termed the passage of the bill in the Lok Sabha as a historic step aimed at uplifting the deprived sections. On the passage of the Citizenship Bill, seeking to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Modi assured people of Assam and North East that their rights will not be curtailed in any way through the bill’s provisions. Modi indicated that alleged middleman Christian Michel, arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, was lobbying for French manufacturer Rafale’s rivals in the multi-role aircraft deal. The onus is on the Congress to come clean on what is driving its allegations on the (Rafale) deal, he said. Citing media reports, Modi said Michel was lobbying for “some other contender” as well. Congress should answer which leader of their party, now shouting about this (Rafale deal), has a connection with Michel, he said. Modi said the ‘chowkidar’ (watchdog), has embarked on a campaign to root-out corruption cannot be bought or scared and will continue with his work relentlessly. The ‘chowkidar’ can pick a wrongdoer even in darkness, he added. Modi launched four-laning of Solapur-Osmanabad section of NH-211, underground sewerage system and three sewage treatment plants and also laid the foundation stone of 30,000 houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

PM Narendra Modi defends 10% quota, asks Congress to clarify on Rafale claim

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday told Lok Sabha that "doubts raised" over her statement on HAL contracts are "incorrect and misleading."

The Union Minister added that she had received a&nbsp;confirmation from HAL on contracts signed worth Rs 26,570.80 crore during 2014-18 and other orders in the pipeline worth Rs 73,000 crore.

"I have received confirmation from HAL that contracts during 2014-18 worth Rs 26,570.80 crore have already been signed with HAL. Orders worth Rs 73,000 crore approx are in the pipeline," she noted.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Congress chief took to Twitter on Monday stating that it isn't surprising that HAL doesn't have enough money to pay its own employees.

<img alt="rahul gandhi" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="013a7172-1a7a-414f-ab93-9ce5a1fa3e78" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/rahul%20gandhi%20tweet.JPG" />

Sitharaman's comments came a day after Congress president <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rafale-deal-nirmala-sitharaman-hits-back-at-congress-president-says-rahul-gandhi-misleading-nation-188560">Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused her</a> of lying in Parliament about procurement orders worth Rs 1 lakh crore for state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).&nbsp;

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Defence Minister in Lok Sabha: I have received confirmation from HAL that contracts during 2014-18 worth Rs 26,570.80 crore have already been signed with HAL. Orders worth Rs 73,000 Cr approx are in the pipeline <a href="https://t.co/UeWFQ2Gc37">pic.twitter.com/UeWFQ2Gc37</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1082166483139076096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
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In her counteroffensive, Sitharaman said it was a matter of “shame” that the Congress president was misleading the country on the issue. She also tweeted details of the contract awarded to HAL since 2014 when the BJP came to power.

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Rahul Gandhi: Today Nirmala Sitharaman lied in parliament.I'm again requesting the Defence minister and PM Modi to answer "did Air Force and Defence ministry senior officers object to your interference in Rafale deal?" Please answer in a "Yes or No." <a href="https://t.co/BcbPCucPeS">pic.twitter.com/BcbPCucPeS</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1082189673445748736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
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“It’s a shame that the president of @INCIndia is misleading the nation. HAL has signed contracts worth Rs 26570.8 Cr (Between 2014 and 2018) and contracts worth Rs 73000 Cr are in the pipeline. Will @RahulGandhi apologise to the country from the floor of the house?” the defence minister tweeted out.

Earlier, Gandhi alleged that she “lied” in Parliament that government orders worth Rs one lakh crore were provided to HAL while demanding that she should either place the documents in support of her statement in the House or resign, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;

Gandhi’s attack came after a media report claimed that “not a single rupee of the said Rs 1 lakh crore has come to HAL, since not a single order, as claimed, has been signed till now”.

(With inputs from PTI)&nbsp;

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday told Lok Sabha that "doubts raised" over her statement on HAL contracts are "incorrect and misleading." The Union Minister added that she had received a confirmation from HAL on contracts signed worth Rs 26,570.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday told Lok Sabha that "doubts raised" over her statement on HAL contracts are "incorrect and misleading." The Union Minister added that she had received a confirmation from HAL on contracts signed worth Rs 26,570.80 crore during 2014-18 and other orders in the pipeline worth Rs 73,000 crore. "I have received confirmation from HAL that contracts during 2014-18 worth Rs 26,570.80 crore have already been signed with HAL. Orders worth Rs 73,000 crore approx are in the pipeline," she noted. Meanwhile, the Congress chief took to Twitter on Monday stating that it isn't surprising that HAL doesn't have enough money to pay its own employees. Sitharaman's comments came a day after Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused her of lying in Parliament about procurement orders worth Rs 1 lakh crore for state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Defence Minister in Lok Sabha: I have received confirmation from HAL that contracts during 2014-18 worth Rs 26,570.80 crore have already been signed with HAL. Orders worth Rs 73,000 Cr approx are in the pipeline pic.twitter.com/UeWFQ2Gc37 — ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2019 × In her counteroffensive, Sitharaman said it was a matter of “shame” that the Congress president was misleading the country on the issue. She also tweeted details of the contract awarded to HAL since 2014 when the BJP came to power. Rahul Gandhi: Today Nirmala Sitharaman lied in parliament.I'm again requesting the Defence minister and PM Modi to answer "did Air Force and Defence ministry senior officers object to your interference in Rafale deal?" Please answer in a "Yes or No." pic.twitter.com/BcbPCucPeS — ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2019 × “It’s a shame that the president of @INCIndia is misleading the nation. HAL has signed contracts worth Rs 26570.8 Cr (Between 2014 and 2018) and contracts worth Rs 73000 Cr are in the pipeline. Will @RahulGandhi apologise to the country from the floor of the house?” the defence minister tweeted out. Earlier, Gandhi alleged that she “lied” in Parliament that government orders worth Rs one lakh crore were provided to HAL while demanding that she should either place the documents in support of her statement in the House or resign, news agency PTI reported. Gandhi’s attack came after a media report claimed that “not a single rupee of the said Rs 1 lakh crore has come to HAL, since not a single order, as claimed, has been signed till now”. (With inputs from PTI)

Doubts raised incorrect and misleading: Sitharaman over HAL statement in Parliament 

Taking a jibe at the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/wont-let-pm-modi-sleep-until-all-farms-loans-waived-rahul-gandhi-184997">Congress </a>Prime Minister Modi said on Wednesday that the party has humiliated every important institution of the democracy.

While interacting with BJP karyakartas&nbsp;of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, PM&nbsp;Modi said,&nbsp;"the Congress has&nbsp;humiliated the army, CAG and every important institution of the democracy".

Referring to the Rafale verdict, PM Modi further said&nbsp;"recently they <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-urges-sc-to-recall-rafale-judgment-issue-contempt-of-court-notice-to-govt-184555">questioned a Supreme&nbsp;Court verdict</a> just because they could not threaten the court into doing what they wanted. They tried to impeach the CJI also."

PM Modi also targetted the Congress over their frequent&nbsp;accusations of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-files-petition-in-chhattisgarh-high-court-over-evm-security-182070">EVM tempering</a>.

"Before every election they begin to make noise about EVMs, trying to create an atmosphere of doubt. However after elections, if Congress performs well they seem to accept results that have come out of the same EVM", he said.

"The Congress party has become more cunning since the days of Emergency," he said.

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PM: They've humiliated the Army, CAG &amp; every institution imp to our democracy. Recently they questioned an SC verdict just because they didn't like the decision. Earlier, just because they couldn't threaten the court into doing what they wanted they tried to even impeach the CJI. <a href="https://t.co/lH9TSdTzcB">pic.twitter.com/lH9TSdTzcB</a>
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PM in interaction with BJP Karyakartas of Tamil Nadu&amp;Puducherry: Before every election they begin to make noise about EVMs, trying to create an atmosphere of doubt. However after elections, if Congress performs well they seem to accept results that have come out of the same EVM. <a href="https://t.co/QH1Abm8WLj">pic.twitter.com/QH1Abm8WLj</a>
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The prime minister was interacting with booth level workers of Vellore, Kanchipuram, Viluppuram and south Chennai districts of Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, through video conferencing from New Delhi.

PM Modi asked party workers to increase their outreach by creating awareness about his government's welfare schemes.

"From housing to health care, from sanitation to skills, there are schemes for every section of society," he said. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

Taking a jibe at the Congress Prime Minister Modi said on Wednesday that the party has humiliated every important institution of the democracy. While interacting with BJP karyakartas of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, PM Modi said, "the Congress has humiliated the army, CAG and every important institution of the democracy".

Taking a jibe at the Congress Prime Minister Modi said on Wednesday that the party has humiliated every important institution of the democracy. While interacting with BJP karyakartas of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, PM Modi said, "the Congress has humiliated the army, CAG and every important institution of the democracy". Referring to the Rafale verdict, PM Modi further said "recently they questioned a Supreme Court verdict just because they could not threaten the court into doing what they wanted. They tried to impeach the CJI also." PM Modi also targetted the Congress over their frequent accusations of EVM tempering. "Before every election they begin to make noise about EVMs, trying to create an atmosphere of doubt. However after elections, if Congress performs well they seem to accept results that have come out of the same EVM", he said. "The Congress party has become more cunning since the days of Emergency," he said. PM: They've humiliated the Army, CAG & every institution imp to our democracy. Recently they questioned an SC verdict just because they didn't like the decision. Earlier, just because they couldn't threaten the court into doing what they wanted they tried to even impeach the CJI. pic.twitter.com/lH9TSdTzcB — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2018 × PM in interaction with BJP Karyakartas of Tamil Nadu&Puducherry: Before every election they begin to make noise about EVMs, trying to create an atmosphere of doubt. However after elections, if Congress performs well they seem to accept results that have come out of the same EVM. pic.twitter.com/QH1Abm8WLj — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2018 × The prime minister was interacting with booth level workers of Vellore, Kanchipuram, Viluppuram and south Chennai districts of Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, through video conferencing from New Delhi. PM Modi asked party workers to increase their outreach by creating awareness about his government's welfare schemes. "From housing to health care, from sanitation to skills, there are schemes for every section of society," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Congress has humiliated every important institution of democracy: PM Modi

The Congress on Saturday alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre had misled the Supreme Court over the Rafale deal and committed contempt of court and perjury.

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed petitions seeking a direction to the CBI to register an FIR for alleged irregularities in the multi-billion dollar deal between India and France for procurement of 36 Rafale jets.

It said there was no occasion to "really doubt the decision making the process" warranting setting aside of the contract.

Speaking to media persons here, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the basis of the court ruling was a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) which has not been seen by anyone, nor has it been shared with Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The apex court said it was ill-equipped to conduct judicial review of issues related to pricing, and this has been the Congress' stand. Hence, the party is demanding a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), he said.

"The BJP has hoodwinked the nation and cheated the people. Now it has the guts to do the same to mislead the apex court. There is a serious misrepresentation of vital, significant facts to the apex court. This amounts to contempt (of court), (breach of) privilege as well as perjury," he claimed.

'Modi' now stands for 'Misleading Of Democratic Institutions', he quipped. 
The government has now moved an application before the SC, seeking correction of reference to CAG report, the Congress leader said.

"If this is true, it means a clear admission by the government that what is reported in para 25 of the judgement is a misrepresentation of facts...The government is saving its skin. How can the SC imagine a CAG report and its vetting by the Public Accounts Committee on its own?" Singhvi asked.

He also contested a mention in the SC judgement that relations between Dassault, the manufacturer of Rafale, and Reliance dated back to 2012.

"Reliance Defence was set up on March 28, 2015, and Reliance Aerostructure on April 24, 2015. It is during this time that Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France on April 10, 2015," he said.

On Finance Minister Arun Jaitley terming the JPC as a divided political body, Singhvi said the BJP, when in opposition, had demanded a JPC probe many times, including in Bofors, 2G and VVIP helicopter scams.

"This is the worst kind of hypocrisy," he said.

The SC judgement said the material placed before it showed that the Centre disclosed pricing details of the jets to the CAG, and the CAG report was examined by the PAC.

However, PAC chairman and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge have said he never received any such report.

The Congress on Saturday alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre had misled the Supreme Court over the Rafale deal and committed contempt of court and perjury.

The Congress on Saturday alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre had misled the Supreme Court over the Rafale deal and committed contempt of court and perjury. The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed petitions seeking a direction to the CBI to register an FIR for alleged irregularities in the multi-billion dollar deal between India and France for procurement of 36 Rafale jets. It said there was no occasion to "really doubt the decision making the process" warranting setting aside of the contract. Speaking to media persons here, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the basis of the court ruling was a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) which has not been seen by anyone, nor has it been shared with Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The apex court said it was ill-equipped to conduct judicial review of issues related to pricing, and this has been the Congress' stand. Hence, the party is demanding a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), he said. "The BJP has hoodwinked the nation and cheated the people. Now it has the guts to do the same to mislead the apex court. There is a serious misrepresentation of vital, significant facts to the apex court. This amounts to contempt (of court), (breach of) privilege as well as perjury," he claimed. 'Modi' now stands for 'Misleading Of Democratic Institutions', he quipped. The government has now moved an application before the SC, seeking correction of reference to CAG report, the Congress leader said. "If this is true, it means a clear admission by the government that what is reported in para 25 of the judgement is a misrepresentation of facts...The government is saving its skin. How can the SC imagine a CAG report and its vetting by the Public Accounts Committee on its own?" Singhvi asked. He also contested a mention in the SC judgement that relations between Dassault, the manufacturer of Rafale, and Reliance dated back to 2012. "Reliance Defence was set up on March 28, 2015, and Reliance Aerostructure on April 24, 2015. It is during this time that Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited France on April 10, 2015," he said. On Finance Minister Arun Jaitley terming the JPC as a divided political body, Singhvi said the BJP, when in opposition, had demanded a JPC probe many times, including in Bofors, 2G and VVIP helicopter scams. "This is the worst kind of hypocrisy," he said. The SC judgement said the material placed before it showed that the Centre disclosed pricing details of the jets to the CAG, and the CAG report was examined by the PAC. However, PAC chairman and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge have said he never received any such report.

Government lied to Supreme Court on Rafale; committed contempt of court, perjury: Congress

Exclusive: EX-Italy PM Enrico Letta speaks to WION

The Bhartiya Janata party will hold press conferences at 70 locations across the country on December 17 to "expose Congress".

The conferences have been called following the Supreme Court's ruling where the top court dismissed all petitions pertaining to the Rafale fighter jet deal.

The apex court on Friday said that detailed scrutiny of the Rafale fighter jet deal was not required and ruled out the probe&nbsp;into the pricing details of the deal.

The BJP in a statement after the verdict demanded an apology from the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi for levying false allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to hold Press Conferences at 70 locations across the nation on Monday, December 17, to "expose Congress' for plotting conspiracy against Central government and messing with country's defence". <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rafale?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rafale</a> <a href="https://t.co/gGdxvq7PwC">pic.twitter.com/gGdxvq7PwC</a>
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India signed an agreement with France for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in a fly-away condition as part of the upgrading process of the Indian Air Force equipment. The estimated cost of the deal is Rs 58,000 crore.

The Bhartiya Janata party will hold press conferences at 70 locations across the country on December 17 to "expose Congress". The conferences have been called following the Supreme Court's ruling where the top court dismissed all petitions pertaining to the Rafale fighter jet deal.

The Bhartiya Janata party will hold press conferences at 70 locations across the country on December 17 to "expose Congress". The conferences have been called following the Supreme Court's ruling where the top court dismissed all petitions pertaining to the Rafale fighter jet deal. The apex court on Friday said that detailed scrutiny of the Rafale fighter jet deal was not required and ruled out the probe into the pricing details of the deal. The BJP in a statement after the verdict demanded an apology from the Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi for levying false allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to hold Press Conferences at 70 locations across the nation on Monday, December 17, to "expose Congress' for plotting conspiracy against Central government and messing with country's defence". #Rafale pic.twitter.com/gGdxvq7PwC — ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2018 × India signed an agreement with France for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in a fly-away condition as part of the upgrading process of the Indian Air Force equipment. The estimated cost of the deal is Rs 58,000 crore.

BJP to hold 70 press conferences across country to 'expose Congress'

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