Government files application in SC issuing correction on errors with regards to CAG report on Rafale deal

Amidst the uproar by the Congress party, which has accused the Centre of lying and misleading the Supreme Court, the Modi government filed an application in front of the apex court on Saturday, issuing correction on errors with regards to the CAG report on Rafale deal.

The government sent a letter, wherein they informed the topmost court that the word "is" has been replaced with the words "has been" in reference to the PAC.

"That it would be noted that what has already been done is described by words in the past tense, i.e. the Government "has already shared" the price details with the CAG. This is the past tense and is factually correct. The second part of the sentence, in regard to the PAC is to the effect that "the report of the CAG is examined by the PAC".

"However, in the judgment, the reference to the word "is" has been replaced with the words "has been", and the sentence in the judgment (with regards to the PAC) reads "the report of the CAG has been examined by the Public Accounts Committee"," point 6 of the government's letter to SC read.

The SC, in the Para 25 of its judgment, had stated that pricing details had been shared with CAG, which in turn was shared with PAC and examined by the committee.

"The pricing details have, however, been shared with the Comptroller and Auditor General, and the report of the CAG has been examined by the Public Accounts Committee. Only a redacted portion of the report was placed before the Parliament, and is in public domain," the paragraph from the judgment read.

READ: Unrepentant After Supreme Court Verdict On Rafale Deal, Rahul Gandhi Slams Desk And Asks, 'Where Is CAG Report?'

Congress, led by its party president Rahul Gandhi, were quick to jump on this issue, and alleged that the government had tried to mislead the three-judge bench of SC by putting false facts in front of them. 

"The foundation of the judgement of the Supreme Court are these three lines: The pricing details have however been shared with the CAG, and the CAG report has been examined by PAC. Only the redacted portion of the report has been placed in the Parliament and is in public domain.The government will have to explain to us where is the CAG report. Show it to PAC chairman Mallikarjun Kharge ji. Maybe a different PAC is running parallelly, maybe in a different Parliament, maybe in the Parliament of France. It's possible Modi ji has constituted his own PAC in PMO," Rahul Gandhi had said hours after the SC's verdict.

READ: Stung By The Rafale Verdict, Congress Accuses Government Of Lying In Supreme Court

It was followed by similar comments by PAC chief and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who said that he and members of PAC had no knowledge about the CAG report, on Saturday.

"Govt lied in SC that the CAG report was presented in the house and in PAC and PAC has probed it. Govt said in SC it is in public domain. Where is it? Have you seen it? I am going to take this up with other members of PAC. We will summon AG and CAG," he added.