Strongly contradicting Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s charge of “vendetta”, the BJP on Wednesday retorted with a sharp jab by asking her to use her “old relations” in Italy to find out why an Italian court mentioned her name in the AgustaWestland corruption case. The BJP said her name “figures” in the court documents.
The BJP also said investigations into the alleged scam will be speeded up by the Central Government.
The party, which has already upped the ante on the issue and given notices for a discussion in both Houses of Parliament, said “it has nothing to hide on the issue” and sought the Congress president to check with the Italian court as to why it has given “such a long judgment after two years”.
Addressing a Press conference here, senior BJP leader and Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy said the Government will fulfil the Congress chief’s demand for a thorough probe whose modalities will be decided once Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has made a statement in Parliament on the issue.
“The truth is that the Italian court documents carry some facts and her name is there. Names of some senior Ministers (of UPA Government) are also there. She must have some contacts in Italy. She should find out from her old relations why the court gave such order after two years.
“Why the court wrote such things that has created such a big trouble for her in India. If it is vendetta, she should ask the Italian court about it,” Rudy said while making a reference to Sonia’s Italian origin and her charge that allegations against her and other Congress leaders were part of “vendetta” and a strategy for character assassination.
“She asked what the Government did in the last two years. We will do a thorough probe. Whatever you want will happen... More revelations will come,” he said sarcastically, adding there is a lot of evidence.
The Government has nothing to hide, he said. He also rejected the Congress’ charge that the NDA Government had removed AgustaWestland from the blacklist and said any Government transaction with the company remains banned. “There is no relaxation,” he said.
Rudy also lashed out at leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad over his remark that the charges against his party leaders may have something to do with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with his Italian counterpart during an UN event last year.
“This is a brazen lie, fabricated and imaginary. Congress is using untruth as its shield to divert attention,” he said. A discussion under calling attention or short duration could be held in both Houses on the alleged scam.
In lok Sabha, countering the ruling party, the Congress sought a discussion on the AgustaWestland helicopter deal saying allegations have been levelled against its leadership. As soon as the House took up the Question Hour, Congress leader in the lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said all newspapers have the news item regarding the VVIP helicopter deal and allegations have been levelled against party leaders. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the issue can be raised after the Question Hour.