Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Never Interfered in AgustaWestland Deal, Says Former Defence Minister AK Antony
AK Antony mentioned that the Congress-led UPA government had initiated a CBI probe in alleged corruption in the AgustaWestland deal.
New Delhi, December 31: As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its attack on Congress after the Enforcement Directorate on Saturday brought in the name of 'Mrs Gandhi' and 'big man R', an apparent reference to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi, while seeking the custody of Christian Michel, accused in the AgustaWestland chopper deal case, former defence minister AK Antony on Monday said the mother-son duo never interfered in the process.
"As former defence minister, during my time the procurement of AgustaWestland took place. I would like to say, categorically, that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi never interfered in deals and procurement. The AgustaWestland deal was selected after evaluation by a team of officials," Antony told Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha MP mentioned that the Congress-led UPA government had initiated a CBI probe in alleged corruption in the AgustaWestland deal. AgustaWestland Scam: BJP CMs Accuse Congress of Taking Bribe After Christian Michel Named 'Mrs Gandhi'.
"Whenever media reported about corruption in a deal, we initiated an inquiry. We took the decision to blacklist 5-6 powerful companies, including one American, Russian and Singapore company. That was our track record, but what is the track record of the present govt?" he said in the upper house of Parliament.
The ED, which got a seven-day extension of custody of Michel from a special court, made references to "one 'Mrs Gandhi' and 'big man R', son of an Italian lady who is going to be the next Prime Minister", perceived as being Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi. The agency, however, did not specify who the "Mrs Gandhi" or 'big man R' it was referring to.
Reacting to the development, Congress leader RPN Singh said the Modi government is pressurising Michel to implicate the Gandhi family. "The 2019 Lok Sabha elections are not far away... The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) devoid of any issue is shamelessly misusing and abusing central agencies to malign the Gandhi family," Singh told the media.
The BJP on Sunday accused the Congress of giving a political colour to the investigation process involving Michel and said that the anxiety of the opposition party is evident with its behaviour in the case.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 31, 2018 02:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).