BJP calls chopper deal another 'Bofors'

Congress denies being lax in probing allegations

Describing the Italian chopper deal as one having the "makings of a second Bofors scam", BJP today sought to know why the government didnot take any action on the matter till now and said it will raise the issue strongly during the Budget Session of Parliament.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, however, dismissed suggestions that the alleged scam was "Bofors-Part II", saying the Opposition should understand that most of the allegations in the Bofors case were rejected by the Supreme Court.

Rejecting charges that it was not proactive in probing allegations of kickbacks in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal, government today said it would act only according to the law and not to please the Opposition in this case.

Khurshid said India was in touch with authorities in Italy over the case. Khurshid added that it made sense to let Italy proceed with its investigations since the company was based there.

Congress also welcomed Defence Minister A K Antony's move to hand over the probe to CBI.

On the other hand, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "This deal raises a serious question. There was one gentleman Ottavio Quattrochhi from Italy who was involved in the Bofors scam. Several attempts were made to protect him. This helicopter company is also from Italy. Was this a factor in no probe being done in the matter for the past one year?"

Though BJP did not spell out its strategy on the issue, Prasad said the party will raise this matter strongly inside and outside Parliament.

"I see the making of a second Bofors in this scam. The government has not been able to explain why it was silent for one year on this issue despite the details being available in the public domain," Prasad said.

He came down heavily on Defence Minister A K Antony, saying he should have called the Italian Ambassador to discuss the reports of financial irregularities in the Augusta Westland VVIP chopper deal.

CPI(M) too joined the chorus and said it would seek the government's response on the issue in the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament.

"The contract for the helicopters should be cancelled. The CBI investigations should be supervised by the Supreme Court and only then the people will have confidence that we will get to the bottom of this affair," the CPI(M) Politbureau said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence decided to put on hold the receipt of the remaining nine of the 12 helicopters for which the Rs 3,600 crore deal was struck in 2010.