Why Cong scared of Christian Michel, asks BJP

Bihar BJP chief Nityanand Rai Monday asked the Congress why it was scared of Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, and what is the truth that it wants to hide.

The Enforcement Department investigating the AgustaWestland case, had told a Delhi court on Saturday recently that Michel has made a reference to "Mrs Gandhi" during interrogation.

The Congress then hit out at the BJP-led government at the Centre, accusing it of using agencies to put pressure on Michel to "name a particular family" as elections were near and it has no real issues.

"Why the Congress party is making a hue and cry on Christian Michel and what is the truth that it wants to hide? The Congress getting jittery on the issue makes things more evident as why it is creating a furore over the matter," Rai told reporters here at the party office.

An Italian court in its order noted that Rs 360 crore was paid as kickbacks in the Rs 37 billion dollar chopper deal and politicians and bureaucrats received Rs 125 crore as bribe, Rai said.

"The court also mentioned the name of Sonia Gandhi four times in its order which shows her involvement in the deal," he said.

Rai said these accusations of corruption were raised not by the BJP or any central agency but by an Italian court.

Michel has revealed many names using codes such as "big man, son of Italian lady, party leader and R" which all suggest to a single family, he claimed.

The Congress is trying to deflect attention of the people by questioning the Narendra Modi government on the AugustaWestland deal, he said.

The BJP leader, however, dodged a query about the Congress' charge of the Modi government ending AgustaWestland's blacklisting.

The truth of the Congress is before the people who will give the party a befitting reply, he said.