AugustaWestland Row: CPI Seeks Probe into Political Angle

CPI said, a thorough probe should be conducted into the VVIP chopper scam if it has any political involvement but felt creating ruckus in RS will not serve any purpose.

HYDERABAD: The CPI today said a thorough probe should be conducted into the VVIP chopper scam if it has any political involvement but felt creating ruckus in the Rajya Sabha will not serve any purpose, though it suits the ruling BJP to obfuscate other issues like Uttarkhand.

Alleging that BJP does not appear to be serious about inquiry, CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy today said the ruling party had taken up this issue in the Rajya Sabha as Congress is troubling it in the Lok Sabha on Uttarakhand issue.

"The person, through whom the allegations on Augusta Westland are said to have come, says he has nothing to do with it and that his father has died. He said it is not true that they met Sonia Gandhi. He has also said he would cooperate with the inquiry", Reddy said here.

"There is a possibility of serious allegations on this.

If political involvement is there, there should be a comprehensive investigation," Reddy said.

"It would be better if a comprehensive investigation, either by Supreme Court judge or something else, is conducted.

Creating some ruckus in Rajya Sabha would not be useful," he said.

BJP and Congress are engaged in a face-off over allegations of bribery in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP helicopter deal during the UPA regime, with Sonia Gandhi being the target of the ruling party's attack.

Reports from Italy, based on a court judgement citing notes from middlemen that around Rs 120 crore were paid to some political leaders in the deal, provided ammunition to the BJP to confront the Congress in parliament and outside.

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