Cong prods PM on Ukraine aircraft kickbacks

The Congress on Thursday asked Prime Minister Modi to come clean on the alleged kickbacks received by the defence ministry officials in the purchase of the spare parts of AN-32 military transport aircraft in view of a probe already initiated by the supply country Ukraine.

Citing a media report on the kickbacks of Rs 17.55 crore, Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said: "We aren't making accusations as yet. But as a responsible opposition, we are asking five questions that the Government should answer. The information in the public domain about the kickbacks will have serious implications."

Congress president Rahul Gandhi also tweeted: “Ministry Of Defence, India (MODI) officials, accused of making millions of $'s (dollars) in kickbacks via Dubai by Ukrainian Government in AN32 deal. Modi ji, as our self proclaimed chowkidar, I urge you to take immediate action against your corrupt MODI officials."

A post on the party's official website said: "On a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the Indian diaspora in Indonesia that fighting corruption was his Government's top priority, his own Defence Ministry officials have come under the scanner for allegedly receiving bribes for the purchase of spares for military aircraft. In the second defence scam to hit the Government after the Rafale deal, Ukraine's NAB is investigating the kickbacks that were allegedly paid by Ukrainian state-run defence firm Spetstechnoexport to the Indian officials via a UAE-based company called Global Marketing SP Ltd."

Explains the post: "The agreement between India's Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. and Spetstechnoexport was signed in November 2014. A subsequent 'implementation agreement' was signed in August 2015 between Spetstechnoexport and Global Marketing. Despite the terms of the contract not being completed, both the Indian and Ukrainian parties signed statements of completion and the amount of Rs17.55 crore was transferred to Global Marketing, according to the NAB."

Arguing that the "manufactured halo of incorruptibility" around Modi had unraveled, the post added: "Serious questions have been raised by the NAB, including why this agreement was even required given that the deal was signed many months before; why the parties signed statements of completion when the terms had not been fulfilled, and what are the dealings of Global Marketing."

The questions posed at an AICC press briefing are:

"Is it a fact that the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NAB) of Ukraine has written to the Indian Home Ministry, seeking legal assistance in the investigation into the misappropriation of funds to the tune of $2.6million?

"Is it a fact that the terms of contract have not been fulfilled and the Ministry of Defence signed a statement of completion which facilitated the transfer of alleged illegal gratification?

"What has been the response so far of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Defence to the request by Ukrain?

"Has any internal process been initiated by the Ministry of Defence in the wake of the alleged scam coming to their attention?

"If this government believes in transparency and probity and if it abides by the slogan 'na khaunga, na khande dunga,' then why have you been hiding these facts from the people?'