Take action, but don’t threaten us, says Antony
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday told the Rajya Sabha that there have been most important deviations in the procurement technique for the 2010 VVIP helicopter deal, while his predecessor A.ok. Antony challenged the government to do so against Congress leaders.
The deviations favoured AgustaWestland, the Minister said, alleging that it regarded an “invisible hand”became guiding the motion or state of being inactive of the investigating agencies underneath theprevious authorities. After the Modi authorities became sworn in, the CBI and the ED have beenfastidiously pursuing all aspects of investigations. “That bribes have been paid is thought to all and sundry. where the cash went is being investigated.”
Bid to divert attention
Countering allegations that Congress leaders were many of the beneficiaries, Mr. Antony informed the treasury benches, “if you have evidence in opposition to us, take action. but don’t threaten us.”
A united opposition tore into the BJP’s attempt to politicise the difficulty, accusing the government of diverting interest from crucial topics like drought and misery in the farming sector.
Congress walks out
The Congress walked out of the house as the discussion become finishing up, demanding that theperfect court display the CBI probe, and that it must be time sure. earlier than the house assembled, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi said there was no quid pro quo and denied the allegation of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya that her son Rahul become worried in a belongings scam associated with the acquisition of 12 VVIP copters in 2010.
Copter deal row a diversion: Congress
The Congress said on Wednesday that the authorities changed into looking to “vilify the pinnacle of a political celebration” on the basis of mere “insinuation and innuendo” inside the VVIP helicopter deal andchanged into trying to cover up the “disillusionment” over its misrule.
Congress chief Ahmed Patel stated he would give up the Rajya Sabha and public life if the chargestowards him had been proved. The Congress demanded that the authorities place a licensed copy of theofficial translation of the judgment of the Italian court docket.
Samajwadi birthday celebration’s Ramgopal Yadav said the problem was being raised through the BJP toadvantage “political mileage,” and the birthday party was making “a mountain out of a molehill”. Sharad Yadav of the Janata Dal (United) said: “there may be no substance within the allegations… Why don’t you dig out corruption inside the defence deal? you have got been in strength for 2 years; you should notdegree fake allegations in opposition to political leaders.”
SC-directed probe sought
BSP leader Mayawati demanded a ideally suited court docket-monitored probe. She stated: “The birthday party in electricity misuses the CBI,” and there were greater critical issues like drought to be mentioned.
Tapan Kumar Sen of the CPI(M) puzzled the independence of the CBI.
The discussions again and again plunged into noisy uproar as BJP member Subramanian Swamy attemptedto take Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s name in the residence and link her to the scandal.
in advance, his party colleague Bhupendra Yadav, who initiated the talk, pointed a finger on the UPAauthorities. He stated a advice had been made to alternate the Mi-eight helicopters for VVIP tour in 1999whilst the NDA was in strength, and it become emphasized that the procurement should now not becompleted via a single dealer.
‘Omissions’
Quoting extensively from a CAG file, the BJP MP said the unmarried–dealer idea become not noted,exams had been allowed to be performed overseas or even the specs of altitude have been decreasedto 4,500 feet from the earlier 6,000 ft.
