Parliament highlights: PM pitches for majority govt; Cong slams Rafale deal

PM Modi took potshots at Rahul Gandhi over the Rafale issue and made a strong pitch for electing a majority government in national interest, as he addressed the 16th Lok Sabha for the final time

9:18 PM

3 Bills passed in Lok Sabha, 4 Bills in Rajya Sabha: Narendra Singh Tomar

8:23 PM

8:22 PM

Why is BJP fearing JPC on Rafale deal, asks Rahul Gandhi

8:21 PM

Only reason for new Rafale deal was to give Rs 30,000 cr to Anil Ambani, alleges Rahul Gandhi

8:20 PM

Final Rafale price will increase further: Rahul Gandhi

8:18 PM

New Rafale deal gets India the aircraft later than original deal: Rahul Gandhi

8:15 PM

Earlier in the day, Congress President Rahul Gandhi held a press conference to speak about the Rafale deal. 

7:52 PM

Figure of Rafale being 2.86% cheaper under new deal fake, false: Congress

Even the "eyewash" CAG report has demolished the argument of the BJP leaders by stating that the aircraft were cheaper by 2.86 per cent, Surjewala said. "The manufactured figure of 2.86 per cent by the CAG is horribly fake and false," Surjewala added. (Read more here)  

7:50 PM

'Chowkidar Auditor General' report on Rafale an eyewash: Congress

The "Chowkidar Auditor General" report is a mere "eyewash" as it even fails to mention the price of the Rafale aircraft, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said in a statement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman have in Parliament reiterated the NDA purchase of the aircraft was 9 per cent to 20 per cent cheaper as compared to the UPA-era offer, Surjewala said. (Read more here)  

7:49 PM

CAG report on Rafale deal a 'Chowkidar Auditor General' report: Congress

Earlier on Wednesday, the Congress dubbed the CAG report on the Rafale deal as a "Chowkidar Auditor General" report and said the claim that the Modi government's contract to procure 36 fighter jets got 2.86 per cent cheaper price than the UPA-era offer was "fake". The opposition party's rebuttal, in which it also termed the report an "eyewash", came hours after the much-awaited Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on the controversial transaction was tabled in Parliament. (Read more here) 

6:55 PM

The 16th Lok Sabha passed 203 Bills out of 219 introduced, including one on curbing black money. 

6:55 PM

Referring to the achievements of his government, Modi said that India has become the 6th largest economy and is fast moving towards being a $5 trillion economy. 

6:54 PM

The PM maintained that neither he nor External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj are responsible for India's enhanced image globally. Modi said the credit goes to the majority the government enjoys in Lok Sabha. The credit, he said, goes to the people of the country. 

6:54 PM

Modi said India suffered globally for long due to fractured mandates. But now it is taken seriously in the global arena because of the majority government, he said.

6:54 PM

The Prime Minister praised Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's leadership and said eight of 17 sessions of this Lok Sabha had over 100 per cent productivity. The overall productivity was recorded at over 85 per cent.