The Hindu : National : Come clean on Bofors: BJP

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Saturday, Sep 29, 2007
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National

Come clean on Bofors: BJP

Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI: Terming the disclosure by Principal Swedish Investigator Sten Lindstorm on the alleged payoffs in the Bofors gun deal as “sensational,” Bharatiya Janata Party spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Friday demanded that the UPA government ‘come clean’ on the issue and on its ‘complicity’ in the ‘wrongful acquittal’ of the prime accused Ottavio Quattrocchi.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Rudy said the nation deserved to know the truth behind the alleged kickbacks and also the ‘continued complicity’ of the Congress-led government at the Centre in ‘protecting’ Mr. Quattrocchi.

“The complete subversion of the independence of the CBI by the government to protect the interests of one particular family is an unfortunate exposition about the sorry state of affairs in the country,” he added.

Mr. Rudy said the ‘disclosures’ had vindicated BJP’s assertion that the CBI, at the behest of the government, had been instrumental in ensuring the “acquittal” of Mr. Quattrocchi. The revelation that the CBI did not cooperate with the Swedish investigator reaffirmed the charge that the government had ‘scuttled’ the investigations against the prime accused, his trial and extradition, he added.

Mr. Rudy said the BJP would hold a protest programme on October 2 on the Ram Sethu issue.

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