With the Enforcement Directorate claiming that the middleman in AgustaWestland helicopter deal had named a “Mrs Gandhi” as one of the beneficiaries, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath demanded an apology from Congress president Rahul Gandhi, saying his family members had received kickback in this deal.
“Congress is the oldest party of the country but its involvement in defence deals during the UPA regime is well known. It has played with the security of the country and the exposure by Christian Michel has brought to light the fact that Congress wanted its pound of flesh in the AgustaWestland chopper deal also,” Yogi told reporters here on Monday.
Yogi also claimed that a court in Italy had proved that Mrs Gandhi had received the kickback.
“The said court punished four people for this alleged scam but said that it could not punish others because they were out of country. One of those who was out of Italy at that time was Mrs Gandhi,” Yogi said without taking the name of Sonia Gandhi.
In the hurriedly called press conference, the Chief Minister said that Congress had drifted away from its ideology. He said the disclosure in the AgustaWestland kickback showed how the party had collected money through illegal ways by putting the country’s integrity and security at risk.
“The kickbacks were taken in purchase of 12 AgustaWestland helicopters for Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2009-10,” Yogi said and added, “People now know this and will punish those who were behind this deal.”
Yogi disclosed that of the total Rs 3,700-crore deal, Rs 360 crore was received as kickbacks of which Rs 150 crore was given to Congress leaders.
“The arrest of Christian Michel and his revelation, clearly indict the Congress in the corruption. The name of “Mrs Gandhi” was revealed during the investigation and even the court in Italy had mentioned the name of “Mrs Gandhi,” Yogi said.
“The Congress was shaky from the day one when Christian Michel was brought to country. Therefore, Congress put up its advocate to defend Christian Michel. This act shows involvement of Congress party in this scam,” he said.
Yogi said that Congress was trying to bully the government over the issue by putting up a brave face. He said it was like ‘chor machaye shor’ but now it will have to answer the public why the court had taken the name of “Mrs Gandhi” in the kickback issue.
“Congress president Rahul Gandhi should seek apology from the country for their misdeed though the people will punish the party for their corruption during the UPA regime in almost all the sectors,” the Chief Minister said.