AgustaWestland deal: Shah asks Sonia who took bribes, Congress hits back

“All I want to ask her is that those who gave bribe are in jail in Italy, then where are those who received the kickbacks? Who were in power at that time? They are responsible and they should bring out the truth. It should be disclosed before the people of the country,” Shah said.

Watch Video | Agusta Westland: Why Is It A Big Deal Politically Now?

He mocked Sonia’s statement that she was not scared of anybody. “We are scared of the Constitution and of losing prestige in public, she isn’t. May be that is why her name keeps recurring in scams from Deccan Herald to AgustaWestland,” Shah said. He called UPA the “rare dispensation” that had scams tumbling out of its closet both when it was in power and when it is out of power.

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Reacting to Shah’s remarks, Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said Shah should direct his queries to “his government”. “BJP needs to apologise. In 24 months, the BJP government has produced no legal material on the probe,” he said.

“It was the UPA government that blacklisted the concerned companies. It was the UPA government that instituted the probes on the whole matter. Twenty-four months is not a small time. What has the BJP government come out with on this?” he said.

Brushing aside queries on Shah’s remark, Singhvi said Shah had no right to seek explanation from Sonia Gandhi. “Why should Sonia Gandhi explain anything? We don’t have Banana Republic rules here. The BJP should explain instead,” he said.

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