Attacking the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) report on the Rafale deal, the Congress said it was “useless”, adding that the Centre tried to mask the truth by asking the CAG to hide the commercial details of the deal.

Former finance minister P Chidambaram reiterated on Thursday that only a Joint Parliamentary Committee can hold a detailed probe into the deal.

“What does that numbers in the tables mean?” he asked, making fun of the symbols the CAG used to hide the figures involved in the deal.

‘CAG is no God’

When asked if the Congress is attacking the institution, he said the CAG is not God and added that the PAC will look into the report.

He said the CAG allowed itself to become a joke and an honourable government in future will restore the prestige and credibility of the institution.

In a written statement, he said the CAG’s report is significant not for what it has said but for what it has not said.

“If you thought that those 33 pages will bring to light the hidden aspects of the deal and explain matters relating to numbers, pricing, delivery etc and comment on the correctness and propriety of the transaction, you will be disappointed,” he said.

‘Unanswered questions’

He said it is significant that the CAG has rejected the claim of the government that the NDA-deal for 36 aircraft was cheaper by 9 per cent.

“What was the justification to reduce the number of aircraft from 126 to 36?”

What is the monetary gain to Dassault due to amortisation of India-specific enhancement costs over 36 aircraft rather than 126 aircraft? And what is the monetary gain to Dassault and the monetary risk to India because of the waiver of sovereign guarantee, bank guarantee and escrow account?,” he asked.

What is the hidden purpose of waiving the mandatory anti-corruption clauses: no undue influence, no agency, access to books of account and integrity pact?” he added.

He asked the auditor when will the first and the last of the 36 aircraft be delivered and what is the probability of Dassault adhering to the delivery schedule? “When will the delivered aircraft become a fighter aircraft and when will the process be started on the first aircraft and completed on the last aircraft? Above all, what is the impact of fewer aircraft (36 against 126, and no orders placed yet for the remaining 90) on the capability and operational preparedness of the Air Force?” he said.