Cong in fierce counter after PM's jibe
New Delhi: The extradition of Christian Michel, a middleman in the AgustaWestland chopper deal, has sparked a furious war of words between the ruling BJP and the Congress.
Addressing an election meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the British national, who has taken UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's name, will spill the beans on the deal during the UPA government's tenure.
"You must have read in today's newspapers about VVIP helicopter scam of thousands of crore. You would be aware of a letter of Madam Sonia Gandhi. When we came to power to find out the files. We kept searching for it and finally found a 'razdar' (one who knows all secrets).
"He was a middleman of England, who was living in Dubai. He used to serve the friends of 'namdaar' in Dubai. The government has brought him to India. This 'razdar' will reveal the secrets. Don't know where and how far it will go," he said.
The Congress on Wednesday said the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were "latching" on to Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland chopper deal who was extradited to India from Dubai, for a "smear campaign" against opposition leaders.
The Congress has put the onus on the Prime Minister for not cancelling the deal and opening the gates of India for the tainted company that was banned by the UPA government under the leadership of Manmohan Singh.
"The BJP is working on '3M' strategy in Agusta case. The 3M stands for misguiding, mudslinging and misleading the nation," Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, adding that PM Modi is a 'protector, benefactor and promoter of Agusta Westland and making a loud noise to hide his misdeeds.
The Congress leader further alleged that the BJP 'manufacturing' false evidence rather than discovering the truth of their own 'corruption'. Citing the decisions taken during UPA regime, Surjewala said, "The UPA government had awarded a contract for purchase of 12 helicopters to Agusta Westland (parent company being Finmeccanica) for Rs 3,546 crore in February 2010 as per global tender norms and had cancelled the deal in February 2013 soon after reports of corruption came into notice."
"Later on the case was handed over to the CBI on February 12, 2013, and in March 2013, the UPA government had proposed to set up a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Agusta Westland. Surprisingly, the BJP had refused to participate or cooperate in the matter," Surjewala said.
Contrary to UPA government's decision, the Modi government took an opinion from its Attorney General to revoke the banning of Agusta Westland and its parent company Finmeccanica in July 2014, soon after coming to power, Surjewala said, adding that it was Modi government that allowed Agusta Westland to bid for 100 Naval Utility Helicopters (NUHs) in partnership with an Indian company.
Christian Michel was Wednesday produced before a Delhi court which allowed his five-day custodial interrogation by the CBI.
He will again be produced in the court on December 10.
Michel, who is a citizen of United Kingdom, was brought to India late Tuesday night following his extradition by the UAE in connection with the case.
He was produced before Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar which allowed discussions between him and his advocate for five minutes.
Michel's advocate asked the court to send him to judicial custody, but the CBI sought his 14-days custodial interrogation to confront him with evidence and unearth the money trail in the scam.
However, the judge allowed CBI to interrogate Michel for five days in its custody. See P5
