Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday said he will place all facts along with the detailed chronology about the controversial AgustaWestland chopper deal before Parliament on 4 May, amid a row over blacklisting of the company and graft allegations.
The Congress, however, appeared not to be enthused with its Chief Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala saying Parrikar should first answer why the Modi government “undid” the blacklisting of AgustaWestland company.
The BJP on its part again trained its guns on Congress President Sonia Gandhi as its national secretary Shrikant Sharma ridiculed her remarks that she was “not afraid of anyone cornering her” and said, “Congress does not fear anybody because it does not maintain dignity of public life (lok lajja).”
Questioning Sonia over the issue of bribes allegedly received by Indians in the chopper deal, another BJP leader Subramanian Swamy once again sought to link her to the deal.
Parrikar told reporters in Panaji on the sidelines of a function.
“Why no action was taken against the company till 2014? Why was the company not blacklisted by then UPA government?” Parrikar questioned.
Parrikar had recently challenged the Congress to show the order by the UPA government confirming the blacklisting.
Surjewala said Parrikar should also answer why within 40 days of banning the company, he passed an order re-permitting the company to participate through a sub-contractor.
Surjewala said levelling allegations against Congress leadership is reprehensible and condemnable, and mudslinging and muck-raising has become BJP’s character.
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