Congress, BJP spar over reports of AgustaWestland chief conviction by Italian court

NEW DELHI: The Congress has hit back at the Modi government and the BJP for trying to target it over the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal.

Maintaining that it was UPA’s defence minister AK Antony who took “uncompromising steps” to get the AgustaWestland lead cancelled, recovered money and blacklisted the company, after reports of irregularities committed by the company, the AICC demanded that PM Modi and BJP answer three questions: “Why did the Modi government remove AgustaWestland from the Indian blacklist?”; why was the firm “invited by the NDA regime to participate in the Make-In-India programme?” and name who was “the Indian businessman, close to Modi, who recently signed an MoU with AgustaWestland?”

Addressing a press conference, Congress Rajya Sabha deputy leader Anand Sharma said: “For the past many days, the Modi government and the BJP have been making insinuations about the Congress leadership. Instead of seeking answers from the Congress, the Modi government and BJP must answer questions on the AgustaWestland issue.

We demand the prime minister and BJP explain why the Modi government removed AgustaWestland from the Indian blacklist despite opposition from Indian agencies and forces. We demand why the prime minister invited the same the AgustaWestland to participate in the Make-in-India programme.

Congress also challenges the BJP to name the Indian businessman , known to be close to the PM, who recently signed an MoU with the same AgustaWestland.” When asked about the businessman’s name, Sharma said: “First we give BJP the chance to name the person, failing which we will let you know whom we are talking about.” Condemning the BJP and sections of the media for linking Congress leaders to the alleged scam, Anand Sharma said: “We ask them not to spread canards.”