If innocent, welcome probe: BJP tells Congress on AgustaWestland

BJP spokesperson says probe agencies are doing their job and eventually the truth will emerge in the VVIP chopper scam

With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress leaving no stones unturned to target each other on the AgustaWestland chopper scam, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh on Sunday asked the grand old party not to be afraid of the probe if they feel they are innocent.

"On one hand Congress claims they are innocent. And on the other hand, they are making a big issue out of it. They are ones who should welcome a probe so that at end of day they are able to vindicate themselves," Singh told ANI.

"Sonia Gandhi says that she is not afraid of the Constitution and the CBI. Those Congress leaders who are saying that they have nothing to hide should come out and prove it," he added.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra said that the investigating agencies are doing their job and eventually the truth will come out in the VVIP chopper scam.

"We are aware of the fact that way back in 2013, when we were discussing these deals and even then the Bharatiya Janata Party had raised pertinent questions and had pointed fingers towards the then UPA president and the driving force of UPA, that was Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and today when appellate court of Milan has delivered its judgement, where the name of Sonia Gandhi ji is and name of the advisors of the UPA," Patra told ANI.

"As far as the question being asked to the Congress Party is concerned, the whole country wants to know the truth behind the AgustaWestland deal. The country is asking where the money has gone and who the bribe takers are. The investigative agencies are doing their job," he added.

AgustaWestland's Rs 3,600 crore contract for supplying 12 VVIP choppers to the Indian Air Force had been scrapped by the Indian Government over charges of paying kickbacks to Indian agents.

In January 2013, India cancelled the deal and the CBI was assigned to investigate whether kickbacks were paid to Indian officials.