Targeting AK Antony on Tatra truck deal, BJP seeks explanation from PM Manmohan Singh

NEW DELHI: Targeting Defence Minister A K Antony for "inaction" in the Tatra truck deal even when alerted through a letter in May 2008, the BJP today wondered if the minister was "under pressure" at that time and sought an explanation from the Prime Minister.

"What prompted Antony to become inactive on this issue? Who's pressure was it? At whose behest these sudden changes in procurement criteria were made. Government owes an explanation. Prime Minister owes and explanation," BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar told reporters here today.

Bringing out a communication of May 12, 2008 seeking a probe into the purchase of Tatra trucks by party MP from Jabalpur Rakesh Singh, the BJP said Antony was "misleading" the nation by stating that he acted promptly when the matter was brought to his notice.

Javadekar said "they must come out.... Because, independent inquiry is only possible if the government comes out clearly and it is a court-monitored inquiry."

BJP MP from Jabalpur Rakesh Singh claimed that he had written to the Defence Minister on May 12, 2008 with a request for investigation of alleged favouritism in procurement of high-mobility vehicles and Antony had replied to him on May 30, 2008, saying "I am having the matter looked into".

Though Singh also pointed out that even though indigenous 6X6 vehicles were manufactured and tested in Vehicle Factory in Jabalpur, the same were not bought by the Defence Ministry and the Tatra-BEML vehicles were purchased instead.

The BJP MP also said that even after Antony's promise of looking into the matter, when nothing happened on the issue, he raised the matter in the Lok Sabha.