Rafale deal How purchase of 126 jets from France became a controversy

By one estimate, the India-specific enhancements took the actual price to double what the Congress claimed to have negotiated

Latest News: The first deal to buy 126 Rafale fighter jet from France’s Dassault Aviation was negotiated in 2012, but never finalised. In 2016, the decisive Narendra Modi signed a smaller deal, this time with the French government, for 36 aircraft in “flyaway condition”, to be delivered between end-2019 and early 2022.

By 2017, questions were being asked. How much was the deal involving far fewer aircraft worth? Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman declined to specify, citing a confidentiality clause. Then came a Parliamentary reply: Each Rafale cost Rs 67 million. From here, the problem escalated into 2018. By one estimate, the India-specific enhancements took the actual price to double what the Congress claimed to have negotiated.|Click Here: Business Standard 

Whiffs of corruption swirled, fanned by Congress President Rahul Gandhi. Cabinet, it seemed, had been bypassed by Modi. An offset deal with Hindustan Aeronautics was scrapped in favour of an Anil Ambani-owned subsidiary, allegedly following a sweetheart movie deal with the then French president Francois Hollande’s girlfriend (denied by both parties).

Demonetisation was an idiotic jolt: 8 things Arun Shourie spoke about

Note ban was the largest money-laundering scheme ever, conceived and implemented entirely by the government, he said.

economy news :Slamming the Narendra Modi government over sliding economic growth and increasing job losses, Arun Shourie, who was a union minister in the BJP-led government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has likened demonetisation with suicide, saying the latter is too “a bold step”.

Former Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie told NDTV that note ban was the largest money-laundering scheme ever, conceived and implemented entirely by the government.

It was an idiotic jolt, he said.

Here are the highlights:

1. "Everyone who had black converted it into white. Demonetisation was an idiotic jolt." Arun Shourie

According to the RBI, almost 9 per cent of the banned currency has been returned to banks, which suggests that black or untaxed money was not destroyed by the giant move.

In November 2016, Shourie said, "I wonder how the move would help check black money which is lying in foreign shores. "The one who actually has black money, is he keeping it in India in rupees?...Those who have black money, they keep it outside. They buy companies, they buy estates. This dengue mosquito is flying in Switzerland and you are wielding the stick here?"

2. Event management

"Event management of the GST -- imagine! A tax reform is being compared to the independence of India" - Arun Shourie

Shourie was referring to the glittering special midnight session of the Parliament that prime minister Narendra Modi led on the eve of GST launch day.

At a glittering special midnight session of the Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today led India to its biggest indirect tax reform - Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The midnight session of Parliament was reminiscent of India's independence on the midnight of August 14 and 15 in 1947 when first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru gave the historic speech on India's 'Tryst with Destiny'.....Read more

Demonetisation greatest money-laundering scheme integrated by govt: Shourie

Modi govt is only about 300-feet statute, bullet trains: Arun Shourie

economy news: Banging the Narendra Modi authorities over sliding monetary development and increasing job deficits, former Union Minister Arun Shourie has likened demonetisation with suicide, saying these is too "a daring step".

He also called it the major money-laundering scheme.

"It was the major money-laundering scheme ever, conceived and implemented completely by the government, " It was an "idiotic jolt" this individual continued, "everyone who black color converted it into white, " he said.

"This is a government by 'ilhaam' (revelation). The Primary Minister has the 'ilhaam' one night that demonetisation should be done and he does it. In any case it was a bold step. Need to remind you suicide too is a bold step, " Shourie said within an interview with NDTV when asked why in his view, the authorities went in for demonetisation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs you, 000 currency notes on November 8 last season.

"Which argument (offered by the federal government in defence of demonetisation today survives? Black money? All of it converted white. Terrorism? Terrorists are still coming into India. At the end they have nothing to say, " he added.

Shourie also took a dig at BJP President Amit Shah who has said that current slowdown is "due to technical reasons", terming him "that famous economist? " and underscoring that official figures simply cannot be brushed under the carpet....READ MORE