New revelation in copter scam adds to BJP's ammunition

The last session of the 15th Lok Sabha is likely to witness uproars as the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to target Congress president Sonia Gandhi over alleged bribery attempts by the Anglo-Italian company AgustaWestland in order to get a contract from the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to supply 12 VVIP helicopters. 

What added fresh ammunition to the arsenal of the principal Opposition party is the revelation that one of the three “middlemen”, who allegedly worked for the AgustaWestland, had advised the company to get the British High Commissioner in New Delhi target the Congress president and her closest advisers in order to secure the contract.

Though it is not yet clear if the AgustaWestland had gone by the advice of the middleman Christian Michel, the BJP is set to turn it into yet another embarrassment for the ruling Congress. The Opposition party has decided to raise it during the next session of Parliament. 

“Money was transacted. There are ample evidences to suggest who the recipients were. We will certainly raise it in Parliament,” said senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha. “It is a repeat of the Bofors scam,” he said. His party would not allow the Congress-led UPA to get away without a proper explanation to Parliament. 

The next session of Parliament is set to commence on Wednesday.