PTI
NEW DELHI, APRIL 26
BJP today used the conviction of Italian officials linked to the VVIP chopper scam to target the Congress and asked the then Defence Minister A.K. Antony to name the party leaders allegedly involved in the scandal.The party wanted to know who were the bribe takers after those who gave the bribe were convicted by an Italian court.
Addressing a press conference, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Mr. Antony had in March 2013 said corruption had taken places in the purchase of VVIP choppers and that bribe had been taken. He asked Mr. Antony to come clean on it.
“Bribe givers have been convicted. Why are bribe takers silent? Antony should answer if leaders of Congress are involved in it or not. Are they from your party or not? Please come out clean,” he said.
He said the treasury benches will use the issue to attack Congress in Parliament.
The chopper scam is not an isolated case of graft and “corruption is the byword of UPA-I and UPA-II”.
He said the treasury benches will use the issue to attack Congress in Parliament.
The chopper scam is not an isolated case of graft and “corruption is the byword of UPA-I and UPA-II”.
‘Probe has gathered pace’
The probe by the CBI and ED has now gathered pace, he said, adding that the secrecy clause, which prevented Italian prosecutors from sharing information with the CBI, is no longer relevant following the conviction.
When asked why he was not naming Congress leaders allegedly involved in the scam, he said, “It was the first chapter today”, indicating that the party will escalate its attack on Congress in the coming days.
The UPA government had signed a deal with Agusta Westland for purchase of 12 helicopters to ferry VVIPs but it was scrapped after reports appeared in Italy that the firm had paid kickbacks to Indian officials to clinch the deal. CBI began probing the case in 2013.
