New Delhi: Taking a strong stand against Congress, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today asked the party to explain when did it put AgustaWestland among the blacklisted companies when it was in power.
Earlier today, the Congress demanded a discussion on AgustaWestland demanding to know why the defence manufacturer accused of corruption was taken off a blacklist by the Narendra Modi government.
The Congress has said that United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government blacklisted the company after the deal was exposed and ordered probe by the CBI and ED.
Demanding a copy of the order, Parrikar said,” When did they (Congress) blacklist? Let them show the order copy (blacklisting AugustaWestland) first. Then I will reply.”
Parrikar also said they have the judgement copy of the Italian court on AugustaWestland deal and they are translating the text into English.
Earlier today , the Congress demanded a discussion on AgustaWestland demanding to know why the defence manufacturer accused of corruption was taken off a blacklist by the Narendra Modi government.
Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy told the Upper House that party chief Sonia Gandhi was amed in the court proceedings into the allegations of corruption in the Agusta Westland deal resulting in strong protest from Congress MPs and adjournment of the house.
Countering the BJP, Gandhi told reporters: “We have nothing to hide. Let them take my name, I am not afraid.” She asked: “This government is in power for two years now, why didn’t they complete the inquiry?”
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh also rebutted the Bharatiya Janata Party's allegation of corruption in the AgustaWestland chopper deal, asserting there was "no case in this".
"There is no case, my party will respond," said Manmohan Singh when asked about AgustaWestland chopper deal.
Citing a newspaper report of an alleged meeting between Indian PM and his Italian counterpart in which Modi had reportedly tried to trade Italian marines with evidence against Sonia Gandhi, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad took on the NDA government asking whether the deal has been struck
Earlier, today top Congress leaders met this morning at party chief Sonia Gandhi's 10 Janpath residence to strategise.
AgustaWestland’s Rs 3,600 crore contract for supplying 12 VVIP choppers to the Indian Air Force had been scrapped by the government over charges of paying kickbacks to Indian agents.
In January 2013, India cancelled the deal and the CBI was assigned to investigate whether kickbacks were paid to Indian officials.
