New Delhi: Congress leader and former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Tuesday reiterated that the Modi government had compromised national interest by collaborating with a tainted UK based company, De La Rue, to print new notes after the demonetisation announcement.
Talking at a press conference here, Chandy asked why the company De La Rue, denied security clearance in India, was made a platinum partner of the highly strategic India-UK Tech Summit organized by the Government of India.
He said the government removed the India-UK Tech Summit link after he raised allegations. “That has created lot of suspicion with regard to the involvement of the De La Rue Company,” he said.
The CEO of the De La Rue, Martin Sutherland has clearly stated that the company has established an office in Delhi and is working closely with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Govt of India to participate in Make in India Initiative. Please clarify on how a company denied security clearance by Government of India is able to establish an office in India and work closely with the Central Commerce Department? Chandy asked.
The National newspaper “The Telegraph” in a report had stated that three companies including De La Rue has been shortlisted for printing plastic notes. Whether De la Rue Company has been shortlisted for printing of plastic currency in India needs a clarification from the concerned ministry, he added.