The Hindu : National : Congress, BJP trade charges over rifles purchase

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 06, 2004

National

National

Congress, BJP trade charges over rifles purchase

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 5. The purchase of AK-47 assault rifles by the Union Home Ministry for the paramilitary forces has got mired in controversy with the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party trading charges today.

While the BJP said the Congress had a vested interest in the guns being bought from a Russian company instead of the Bulgarian company, which bagged the tender, the latter was quick in countering the allegation in similar vein.

Within minutes of the BJP spokesman, V.K. Malhotra, alleging that an All-India Congress Committee general secretary's son was married to the daughter of the agent of the Russian company, his counterpart in the Congress, Kapil Sibal, said a "senior BJP leader's son was involved in the purchase." Both, however, stopped short of citing names, maintaining that their identities would be revealed at a later date.

Demanding a reply from the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, the Congress spokesman challenged the BJP to name the Russian agent. As for the facts — which were countered by the BJP — Mr. Sibal said the Congress would show them the evidence.

The Congress had on Sunday accused the Union Home Ministry of purchasing the assault rifles from a Bulgarian company "linked to terrorist organisations and the company involved in the Purulia arms drop" despite a Russian company — the original manufacturer of these guns — quoting a much lesser price for a "more advanced version of the gun."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National