Ahead of debate, Cong queers pitch

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 3

Ahead of the scheduled debate on AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam in the Rajya Sabha tomorrow and the Lok Sabha on Friday, the Congress today queered the pitch alleging a deal between India and Italy behind a UN court’s orders yesterday to release Italian marines facing murder charges here at home.

Parallel to the insinuation of the deal, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi attacked the government for “deliberately targeting him”. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has maintained innocence, saying “she was not afraid of anyone” and daring the BJP dispensation to complete probe in the case.

The Congress today accused the government of cutting a deal with Italy to release the Italian marines. The party’s chief whip in LS Jyotiraditya Scindia stopped short of saying that India weakened its defence in the UN Court of Arbitration to enable relief for marines so a Milan court could pass an adverse order in the Agusta case.

“The NDA government is hand-in-glove with Italy in terms of the release of Italian marines. We want to ask the government what was the quid pro quo behind this relief to the marines,” Scindia said, recalling a March 21, 2014, tweet by the PM who had then taunted Sonia saying: “Sonia ji if you are so patriotic please tell us in which jail of India are the Italian marines lodged.”