BJP blames Sonia, Cong for delay in Bofors probe

“We want the Bofors papers to be released now, before the elections, so that the people can give their verdict on this issue,” Atal Behari Vajpayee declared. With Sonia going on the offensive on Bofors, the BJP is trying to ensure that this election issue does not slip out of its hands. Vajpayee said that if the present government made excuses, his government would see to it that the documents were made public.

Party vice president K L Sharma said the Bofors documents would be released within six months if the BJP was given the chance to form a government. He also demanded answers from Sonia on questions like her relationship with Ottavio Quattrocchi, who had free access to the Gandhi household and who has been confirmed as one of the recipients of the Bofors kickbacks.

“Until now, the government has not permitted the papers to be made public. Now that Sonia Gandhi herself has demanded this it is the government’s duty to do so. Only then will it be decided who the real culprits were,” Vajpayee said.

He classed the Bofors documents into three categories: The findings of the CBI and other agencies; information procured from the Bofors company; and papers related to cases in courts, especially the Swiss courts. All these should be released, he said.