Michel's statement to ED brought out truth about Congress, Gandhi family: Shah

Targeting the Congress leadership, BJP chief Amit Shah Monday said AgustaWestland case accused Christian Michel's mention of "Mrs Gandhi" has brought the truth about the opposition party and the "Gandhi family" out before people.

In a statement, Shah said the "friendship" between Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland deal, and the Congress' top leadership is "time tested and deep".

He also asked Congress president Rahul Gandhi to seek apology from the country for the AgustaWestland "scam", a reference to the alleged corruption in the purchase of VVIP choppers during the UPA government's tenure.

The Congress has accused the BJP and the government of "manufacturing" lies in the AgustaWestland case, and said Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi never interfered in any defence deals during the UPA regime.

"The government and the BJP are misusing agencies to manufacture lies. I am surprised to know that the present government is spreading lies....is trying to manufacture something out of nothing," former defence minister and senior Congress leader A K Antony said.

Hitting back, Shah said it has become a habit of the Congress and its leaders to speak brazen lies to deny the truth.

Leading the BJP's nation-wide campaign against the Congress, he tweeted, "Trails of the AgustaWestland Casethe SOS of Christian Michel. Does anyone know why Christian Michel passed on the details of questioning on Mrs Gandhi to his lawyer? Did he want them to be passed on to Mrs. Gandhi herself? Why?"