Modi govt allowed company escape ban, says Congress

The Congress is banking on the questionable stance of the Modi government to allow banned firm AgustaWestland to bid for defence projects in partnership with Indian companies to fend off the attack from an aggressive BJP.

The main opposition has also cited the sensational claims of Dubai-based middleman James Christian Michel that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attempted to cut a deal on the Italian marines issue with his Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi in exchange for information against the Gandhi family.

In the Rajya Sabha, leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad sought answers from the Modi government on allowing AgustaWestland, a blacklisted firm in India, to bid for Indian defence projects along with Indian companies.

In the Lok Sabha, Congress leaders have sought a discussion on the controversy at the earliest, seeking to send a signal that it was not shying away from a debate.

Stepping up attack, Congress chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala claimed in July 2014, the Modi government took legal opinion from Attorney General to allow Finmeccanica/AgustaWestland to become part of the Make-in-India programme as “partners” or “sub-contractors” of Indian companies.