New Delhi: A day before the debate on AgustaWestland chopper issue in the Rajya Sabha, Congress President Sonia Gandhi held a strategy meeting with the senior leaders of her party.
Keeping in view the fact that BJP minister Subramanian Swamy had dragged her name in the issue in Upper House last week, the consultations by Sonia were significant..
A section of party leaders have been emphasising on a foolproof strategy so as to send home the message that the party was all for debating the issue but at the same time would not countenance muck-raking at the leadership.
At the AICC briefing, party spokesman Jyotiraditya Scindia said that the party was all for debate on the issue in both Houses of Parliament to clear the air on the matter.
As per the party’s strategy, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Anand Sharma will lead attack from the front while AK Antony and Gulam Nabi Azad will intervene later.
In the Lok Sabha too, Congress has given notices for a short duration discussion on the issue as also for a calling attention notice.
Congress' strategy of attacking Modi government over the Italian marines issue during the debate came to the fore with the party today coming down heavily on the Centre in the matter.
AICC alleged that Modi government "entered into a conspiracy" to "falsely accuse" the party leadership in AugustaWestland chopper case and made a "weak defence" in the Italian marines case as "quid pro quo".
"Recent order of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague confirms the claim that Modi government has entered into a conspiracy to falsely accuse Congress leadership in AugustaWestland case in return for a weak defence in Italian marines case," Scindia told reporters.
In the past one week, the party has raised several questions for the Prime Minister in the matter and declared that it has nothing to hide.
Former Defence Minister A K Antony, who was in poll-bound Kerala, returned here today to participate in the discussion.
