Cong seeks debate on VVIP chopper deal in LS

 Congress today sought a discussion on the AgustaWestland helicoper deal in the Lok Sabha saying allegations have been levelled against its leadership.

As soon as the House took up the Question Hour, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said all newspapers have the news item regarding the VVIP helicopter deal and allegations have been levelled against party leaders.

"Names have appeared. We will have to think about it. We should discuss," he said without naming AgustaWestland.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the issue can be raised after the Question Hour.
Congress has maintained that the UPA government had taken action once reports of wrongdoings and allegations of corrupt practices surfaced in 2013.

Besides cancelling the deal, the UPA had blacklisted AgustaWestland and confiscated the guarantee money. But the NDA government, the party said, has now removed the Italian company from the blacklist.