ED is 'Embarrassing Disaster': Congress

Congress on Sunday hit back at the Modi government after Enforcement Directorate's (ED) claims about "Mrs Gandhi", saying the agency has become an "embarrassing disaster" and that now the country has a "new improved system" that "surpasses kangaroo courts".

Congress also got support from RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav who said the "script" was written in the Prime Minister's Office. Whatever the ED said in the court was scripted in the PMO, he said.

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram fired the first salvo from Congress through a series of tweets when he said the cases will now be "tried on TV channels" if the government, ED and the media" have their way.

"Further, the Criminal Procedure Code and the Evidence Act will not apply. What ED says will be oral evidence, any piece of paper the ED produces will be documentary evidence, and what the TV channel pronounces will be the judgement. Even kangaroo courts hold trials in a courtroom. Our new 'improved' system will surpass kangaroo courts and deliver justice on TV channels," he said.

His comments came against the backdrop of the ED claiming in a court that suspected middleman in AgustaWestland case, Christian Michel, had taken "Mrs Gandhi's" name, indicating that it was in reference to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Separately, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that under Modi government, the ED has become an "embarrassing disaster".

Modi government has been the "benefactor, protector, abettor and supporter" of AgustaWestland, Surjewala told reporters.

While the UPA government blacklisted the company after irregularities came to light, it was the NDA government that lifted the ban on the company and made it part of the 'Make in India' programme. On May 23, 2014, Congress seized bank guarantee of 228 million euros from AgustaWestland. But on August 22, 2014, the BJP government removed the company from the blacklist, he added.

Surjewala also questioned why the NDA government lost all cases internationally against AgustaWestland and why it did not appeal.