BJP to raise chopper scam, Ishrat to counter Cong on Ukhand

Seeking to corner the Congress after it launched a tirade against it for imposition of President's rule in Uttarakhand, the ruling party has decided to raise issues of Agusta Westland Chopper scam, Aircel Maxis scam and the Ishrat Jahan case in Parliament tomorrow.
BJP is seeking a discussion on the Agusta Westland chopper deal in a bid to step up its attack against Congress President Sonia Gandhi, whose name, it alleged, has appeared in the scandal. The ruling party members have already submitted notices while demanding a discussion on these issues.
Sources said party MP Meenakshi Lekhi will raise the issue in Lok Sabha, while Subramanian Swamy, who was nominated to Rajya Sabha recently, will raise the matter in the Upper House.

The party will also demand a discussion on the Aircel Maxis scam, in which the role of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram has been questioned.
BJP leader Anurag Thakur will be raising the issue in Lok Sabha, while Bhupender Yadav will bring it up in Rajya Sabha, the sources said.
Chidambaram is also likely to come under attack by the ruling party in connection with the affidavits filed in the Ishrat Jahan case. Chidambaram has been accused of changing the affidavit to conceal Ishrat's alleged terrorist links.

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya will raise the matter in Lok Sabha, while another BJP member will bring it up in the Rajya Sabha.

Sources said notices have either been already submitted or will be given by tomorrow morning demanding a discussion on all these issues to turn the heat on the Congress, which has been disrupting Parliament over the Uttarakhand tangle.
The UPA government had signed a deal with Agusta Westland for purchase of 12 helicopters to ferry VVIPs but it was scrapped after reports appeared in Italy that the firm had paid kickbacks to Indian officials to clinch the deal. CBI is probing the case.