Rejects Sonia Gandhi’s allegations
AMN /
Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship & Parliamentary Affairs, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, said that government will soon initiate a probe into Agusta Westland scam. Agusta Westland scam involved an order for 12 helicopters for the use of VVIPs.
Briefing media in New Delhi, Rudy rejected Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s allegations that it is an attempt of character assassination. He said it is not the BJP, but the Italian court that has mentioned her and other Congress leaders’ name in the deal.
He also took pot-shot at her saying Ms. Gandhi should question the court on the issue, not the BJP as she has relations in Italy. Mr. Rudy informed that BJP MPs have given notices for discussion in Parliament and Defence Minister will make a statement.
The Italian court has observed that there is a reasonable belief of corruption in the helicopters deal. The deal is related to purchase of 12 helicopters for VVIPs from Italian manufacturer, Finmeccanica during UPA rule.
Mr. Rudy also termed Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad’s claim as baseless that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a meeting with his Italian counterpart in September 2015 to free two Italian marines accused of killing Indian fishermen in exchange of information on the Gandhi family.