CONG SNIFFS A BJP PLOT TO SMEAR SONIA

The sister and lawyer of Christian Michael, a middleman in the Westland chopper scam, have alleged that agencies are trying to extract a false confession from him that he personally knew UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi when the deal for the luxury helicopters was clinched.

Christian Michel has been under detention in Dubai for the last two days and is being questioned by the CBI and ED, his counsel Rosemary Patrizi in Milan and sister Sasha Ozeman in the UK said in separate telephone interviews. They have further alleged that in return for the written confession, Michael has been promised complete exoneration in the case.

The Congress immediately latched onto the allegations and at a hurriedly called press conference slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for conspiring against Sonia Gandhi to make her an accused in the helicopter scam.

This shocking attempt to collect fake and false evidence is clearly a "blind vendetta" to implicate the Congress leadership in the Westland case, using Christian Micheal as tool, the party chief spokesperson said, pointing out that it was the UPA government

that had blacklisted the company. On the other hand, the Modi government that entertained it in numerous ways.

Randeep Surjewala said the undisputed fact is that the UPA government not only cancelled the Rs 3546-crore order for supply of 12 helicopters and handed over the case to the CBI in February 2013, but also proceeded to encash the company's bank guarantees, both in India and abroad, to recover Rs 2,068 crore. It also confiscated its three helicopters worth Rs 886.50 crore.

In February 2014, the UPA government also initiated the process to blacklist Westland and its parent company Finmeccanica.

In contrast, Surjewala said the Modi government tried to be the protector and benefactor of Agusta Westland and Finmeccanica. On August 26, 2014, it undid the order of black listing and permitted them to participate in defence contractors as "sub-contractor" and "defence supplier.

"Not only this, the Modi government cleared foreign investment in August 2014 in a joint venture between Agusta Westland and Tatas. In March 2015, the Modi government asked Agusta Westland to be part of 'Make in India' programme and participate in 'Aero India Exhibition.' In April 2015, Modi government also permitted Agusta Westland to bid for 100 Navy Utility Helicopters."

Surjewala said the stunning revelations in Dubai by the lawyer of the arrested middleman has blown the lid off the "concerted malicious conspiracy" to tarnish the reputation of the opposition leaders and how the CBI and ED are only trying to serve the political masters as their captive puppets and willing tool.