After reports emerged that the Union government has lifted the ban on procurement from the controversial Finmeccanica company, the Congress on Monday demanded answers from the government. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party leaders had earlier dubbed the company as corrupt over the Agusta choppers deal.
The opposition claimed that the BJP raised a "fake bogey of corruption" over the buying of VVIP helicopters during the UPA-II rule. They further questioned if this was now being given a quiet burial.
In 2014, India scrapped the contract with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the Indian Air Force. This was done over an alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of the firm paying kickbacks to secure the deal. The BJP had then attacked the Congress and slammed if its leaders had received the alleged Rs 450 crore bribe money for the deal.
"What is the 'secret deal' entered into between Modi Government and Agusta/Finmeccanica? Is it now ok to deal with a company that Modiji and his government called 'corrupt- bribe giver-bogus'? Does it mean that fake bogey of corruption is being given a quiet burial? The nation awaits answers," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala posed in a series of tweets in Hindi. He further cited reports of the BJP-led government lifting the ban on procurement from Finmeccanica.
"The PM called the company 'corrupt'. HM called the company 'bogus'. Ex Defence Minister accused it of 'bribes and corruption' in Parliament. Then, Modi Government - withdrew blacklisting of Agusta/Finmeccanica on 22nd July 2014. Now, lifted procurement ban," the Congress leader alleged in another tweet.
The Congress leader further alleged that the 'friends of the media' spent hours of air time building a false narrative against the UPA-Congress ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. "Will they now dare to question the Modi Government on the 'secret deal' with Augusta," he asked.
Finmeccanica changed its name to Leonardo in 2016.