The debate in the Rajya Sabha on AugustaWestland helicopter deal scam showed that regional parties such as the Trinamool Congress (TMC), JDU, SP and the BSP preferred a balanced approach on the corruption issue.
TMC member Sukhendu Sekhar Roy wondered if there was a match fixing between the opposition Congress and the ruling BJP as neither concluded coptergate probe during their respective regimes.
The BSP and the SP too avoided a hard stance against the Congress which is on backfoot since an Italian court in its recent judgement said that 11 million Euros bribe was paid for securing the deal during the UPA regime. It also named certain political figures linked to Congress and provided a chart of commission paid in India.
BSP chief Mayawati pitched for a SC-monitored probe during her speech in which she criticised the Modi government for not acting in the last 2 years and suggested that the debate should take place on the deal only after the investigating agencies give their final report. Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav cautioned against scam affecting morale of armed forces personnel.
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