AgustaWestland: Modi breaks silence, says guilty will not be spared

Attacking the Congress party over the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal scam in poll-bound Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said no matter how big a person is action would be taken against him.

Addressing an election rally, Prime Minister Modi said, "I have never seen Italy, and don't even know anyone there. I never met anyone from Italy, but if the Italian authorities made them accused what could I do?"

The Prime Minister said the Italian court has said in its ruling that the previous government in India (UPA Government) and its driving force had accepted bribes in the AgustaWestland deal.

"Should not those involved in helicopter scam be punished? No matter how big a person is action should be taken against them," he said.

Meanwhile, Congress Party leader Anand Sharma criticised Prime Minister Modi for his 'poor' comments, saying he has lowered the dignity of his office.

"The Prime Minister's comments today, particularly with the reference to Italy, are in very poor taste. It does not behove the Prime Minister of this country utter such expressions. It lowers the dignity of his office," Sharma told ANI.

"The Prime Minister's remark didn't have the seriousness. He should speak seriously. First, he should stop blackmailing. If they have anything, bring it on otherwise stop giving baseless statements," he added.

The Congress leaders, earlier today, under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi carried out the 'save the democracy protest' against the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) move of trying to topple the Uttarakhand government.

Sonia Gandhi along with many other Congress leaders have been accused by the BJP of a prime position in the scandal, which saw bribes being paid in India by Anglo-Italian firm Agusta for a contract to sell 12 helicopters for Rs. 3,600 crores.