Moily defends Congress in AgustaWestland bribery case

Former union minister Veerappa Moily on Saturday said the Congress Party took immediate steps after having found out some transactions of bribery in the AgustaWestland deal.

"The UPA government, after having found some transactions of bribery, immediate steps were taken by our defence minister A.K. Antony to institute a CBI enquiry. Thereafter, the contract was cancelled, we filed a case before the Milan. Firm steps were taken in name of integrity," Moily told ANI.

He further stated that the negotiation for Agusta began during former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's regime and all his advisors and defence ministers were involved.

Moily alleged that the NDA Government has a habit to encourage the terrorists as a witness.

"They believed Headley and now they believe the mafia, they think his word is the last word. If this is the kind of a statement, the credibility of the statement will have to be of great suspect. Which court has proved that Sonia Gandhi or anybody is involved? It is false," he added.

He said after the BJP Government came to power, it could have persuaded the CBI enquiry and now they may do it with ulterior and political motive.

The government yesterday said that it has taken effective action to bring out the truth in the AgustaWestland chopper deal and will leave no stone unturned in pursuing all means to bring to justice the corrupt and the wrong-doers in this case.

In a statement, Information and Broadcasting Ministry said, the investigative agencies remain determined to bring to justice the key perpetrators of this misdeed, both inside and outside the country.

The statement said that the undisputed central issue in the Augusta Westland case is corruption especially bribery and any other line of approach and effort is misleading as is being attempted in some quarters.

The Ministry said, it is indeed tragic that a small section of the Indian polity has attempted, unsuccessfully to divert and diffuse the public discourse on this matter.

The Ministry said, those who cannot see Prime Minister succeed even hint at him cutting a deal which is baseless.

It said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not cut any deal of any sort and his only goal and priority is the development of comprehensive national power and empowerment of the masses.