RAJYA SABHA DEBATE
Invisible hand prevented probe in chopper deal: Parrikar
Our Parliamentary Correspondent / New Delhi
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said the ongoing probe on the controversial AgustaWestland deal will focus on those named in the Italian Court judgement. He also hinted the role of an “invisible hand” in preventing a proper investigation earlier. He was replying to a debate in Rajya Sabha on the controversy surrounding the Rs 3600 crore deal for 12 VVIP helicopters, Parrikar said there was “relentless push” by the UPA to go in for the AgustaWestland choppers. Defence Minister was making statement in Rajya Sabha on the AgustaWestland chopper scam
“It appears an invisible hand was guiding action or inaction of CBI and ED,” the Minister said amid protest from opposition parties.
Targeting the UPA regime over the VVIP Chopper deal, Parrikar and Parliamentary Affairs Venkaiah Naidu, rejected the opposition demand for Supreme Court-monitored probe, protesting which Congress staged a walkout.
The Defence Minister minced no words in panning the way the deal was struck while quoting from relevant portions of the Italian court’s judgement.
Amid repeated disruptions the sequence of events related to the deal, he said CBI had registered a case on March 12, 2013 but it did not bother to forward a copy of the FIR to ED for nine months.
He said that Noting that a probe was already underway, he said, the “inquiry will focus on roles of those named in the judgement of Italian court.. Government will leave no stone unturned in bringing to justice those involved in the scam.”
Amid the heated debate opposition demanded swift and impartial probe into the VVIP chopper deal. While Subramanian Swamy pointed finger at Congress President Sonia Gandhi and other top party leaders for the Chopper.
Ahmed Patel offered to quit public life if it was found that he is the AP in the Milan court verdict.
Parrikar made factually backed assertions pointing out areas where corruption crept into the VVIP chopper deal.
Earlier, Subramanian Swamy used his debut speech in the upper house to directly attack Congress President Sonia Gandhi while quoting from the letter of middleman Christain Michael.
Prior to Defence Minister, representatives from all major political parties made their submissions including the Congress which denied all charges levelled against it’s leaders and called for a swift probe to get to the truth.
Left parties, NCP and BSP also backed the demand for a quick and impartial probe suggesting court monitoring as a way to move forward.
It has become clear from the Agusta discussion in the Rajya Sabha that the govt considers the deal solely as a matter of corruption.