Sonia, Rahul never interfered in defence deals: Antony

Amid the political slugfest between the BJP and the Congress over AgustaWestland middleman Christian Michel making apparent reference to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, former Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Monday asserted they never interfered in defence deals and accused the BJP of using central agencies to "manufacture lies".

"Lies lies and lies… they (BJP) are trying to manufacture something out of nothing, they are misusing the agencies to manufacture lies," Antony told the media here.

"I want to say categorically that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi never interfered in defence deals. In my entire period as the defence minster, they never interfered in defence deals," added Antony.

The Congress veteran's assertions came amid the BJP targeting the Gandhi family after the Enforcement Directorate, which is probing the multi-crore rupees AgustaWestland chopper deal case, told a special court that Michel referred to one "Mrs Gandhi" and "big man 'R', perceived as being Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Following Michel's extradition from the United Arab Emirates earlier this month, the BJP has been attacking the Gandhi family claiming that the British national will "spill the beans" on the involvement of Sonia and Rahul in the bribery case.

The Congress on the other hand has been accusing the Narendra Modi government of abusing central agencies to target the Gandhis.

--IANS

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