AICC spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Modi had misused his office to give benefit to Rafale manufacturer Dassault Aviation

The price of the 36 aircraft is Rs 63,450 crore, and not what is claimed by PM Modi and his govt which is Rs 59,000 crore.

The Congress and some opposition parties lashed out at the government for arguing in the Supreme Court that certain media reports on the Rafale deal were based on documents “stolen” from the defence ministry and amounted to a punishable offence under the Official Secrets Act. The Congress also demanded the filing of an FIR against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for causing a “loss to the public exchequer by misusing his office” on the Rafale fighter jet deal.

“It is now for the media organisations and journalists to decide whether they want to retain their independent, impartial and fearless journalism or become the slave of this government forever so that the headlines for newspapers and TV channels will be decided from the ministries, BJP and RSS offices,” AICC spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said. Taking a jibe at the government, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said: “The Modi government itself admits Rafale documents were stolen from the ministry of defence.

How can the country’s security be entrusted with this government? But thanks to them for confirming the documents. An FIR against Modi is now inescapable.” Surjewala said an FIR should be filed against Modi in the wake of the report of the Indian negotiation team on the pricing of the deal, which has been placed in the public domain. “The price of the 36 aircraft is €8,460 million or Rs 63,450 crore, and not what is claimed by Prime Minister Modi and his government which is €7,890 million or Rs 59,000 crore,” he said, citing the negotiation team’s report.

Surjewala said Modi had misused his office to give benefit to Rafale manufacturer Dassault Aviation and consequently caused a loss to the public exchequer. “It is a clear cut case of Section 13, (1) D of Prevention of Corruption Act and other offences under the Indian Penal Code. Time has come to lodge an FIR to investigate and find the truth vis-à-vis the conduct of PM Modi and others involved in the matter.”