Surjewala asked how the primary minister took a "unilateral decision" on buying 36 aircraft of Dassault, bypassing the mandatory defence procurement treatment and in the absence of an inter-governmental contract with France at that time.
The Congress today accused Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of "misleading" the country on the Rafale fighter aircraft deal by not making public the cost of the aircraft, and alleged a "cover-up".
Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala said defence preparedness can't be a topic for politicising, and accused Sitharaman of using the defence ministry premises for "political mudslinging".
"Repeated efforts at shoddy cover-up and complete non-transparency in purchase of Rafale aircraft possess raised serious queries on national interests and national protection by the Modi federal government. You possess political press conferences in BJP offices where you enjoy political mudslinging nevertheless, you can't violate the sanctity, the integrity of the defence ministry by producing its premises a celebration or a system for political mudslinging and I believe that's most unfortunate," he stated.
Requesting why the defence minister or the Modi authorities are hiding from disclosing the aircraft cost, Surjewala said, "The question is quite simple. What is definitely the purchase price per aircraft of the 36 Rafale aircraft becoming bought by the Modi government?"
He asked whether it's correct that per aircraft price of Rafale according to the UPA government's negotiations was USD 80.95 million or Rs 526 crore as against the purchase price by Modi government of Rs 1,570.80 crore per aircraft.
"Why gets the price risen then? From Rs 526 crore to Rs 1,570.80 crore? And does it imply that there is obvious cut reduction to the exchequer? And who's accountable for the same?" he asked.
The defence minister said that Anil Ambani did not head to France, but his company itself has issued a statement saying he was there in France, Surjewala claimed.
"So, who is lying? And who's misleading the country? Your day when Modiji announced buy of Rafale aircraft on April 10, 2015, in France, Anil Ambaniji was present there. How come the minister misleading the united states? The country is looking for answers for the questions and she will need to solution it," he said.
It really is surprising that Sitharaman said India will not require transfer of technology and that the "transfer of technology of production aircraft does not make any feeling", based on the Congress leader.
"Whether she'll tell the country why 'Make in India' will not seem sensible? Why the defence minister and Modi authorities discover 'Make in India' as nonsensical? What objection will Modi federal government have if technology can be used in a public undertaking to ensure that it can produce the aircraft with licence? If the minister wants to state that the Modi government will not purchase aircraft from Rafale (in future) following the buying these 36 aircraft?" he asked.
Surjewala asked the way the prime minister took a "unilateral decision" on buying 36 aircraft of Dassault, bypassing the required defence procurement method and in the lack of an inter-governmental agreement with France in those days.
He also questioned so why general public sector undertaking HAL was bypassed so you can get the offset agreement of Rs 30,000 crore regardless of the work share contract of March 13, 2014, between HAL and Dassault Aviation.
"Why did the primary minister promote the passions of an exclusive corporate entity over a general public sector undertaking? Could it be not right that HAL may be the just Indian entity which includes decades of experience of building aircrafts? How was HAL by-passed towards Reliance, when Reliance experienced zero connection with building fighter aircraft?" he questioned.
On the defence minister's remark that crisis purchase was produced as the UPA didn't buy it for a decade, Surjewala said, "Truth is they aren't going to purchase a good single aircraft during five-year guideline of Modiji. So what may be the consequence of the emergent buy? Hence, rather than misleading the united states, they should give immediate answers to the queries asked."
He also said that it had been the Congress that initiated internal bidding procedure and if there is delay in it, the BJP should tell just how many aircraft they bought in last 41 months.
"When she actually is not telling price of the aircraft, how would you understand the aircraft cost has truly gone up? At least, she should tell what's the price tag on the aircraft?" he stated.