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LIVE: Country wants to know who supported, who benefited from corruption in AW deal, says Manohar Parrikar
A fierce debate was held in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday on the issue of alleged graft in the purchase of AgustaWestland VVIP helicopters, with both the ruling BJP and opposition Congress attacking each other.
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The Rajya Sabha has concluded the debate on the AgustaWestland issue.
After present government took over, CBI and ED have been rigorously pursuing all aspects of investigations - Manohar Parrikar
That bribes were paid is known to everybody. Where did the money go is being investigates, responds Parrikar.
The Opposition demands Supreme Court-monitored, time-bound CBI inquiry into the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper bribery issue.
More strangely ED did not act on FIR till July 2014, it appears an invincible hand was guiding actions or inactions by the CBI and the ED - Parrikar
Even as Parrikar is reading out his response to the AW debate, the Opposition is making noise and demanding a short speech from the minister.
Why were field evaluation trials conducted outside India? Field trials in India were extremely important because topographical conditions here differ from those in the US and the UK - Parrikar
CAG report highlighted that allowed offsets were not compliant with DPP. Many Indian offsets partners were not eligible - Manohar Parrikar
Opposition demands the minister (Parrikar) to make a short speech.
The benchmark cost given by the Contract Negotiation Committee was unreasonably high and had provided no realistic basis for price negotiations - Manohar Parrikar
Investigation in the matter has so far revealed involvement of IDS Infotech as conduit for transfer of bribe money - Manohar Parrikar
The fact that there was corruption in the matter is brought out in extensive details in recent judgments of the Milan court - Parrikar
The country wants to know as to who instigated, supported and benefited from corruption. We can't let this pass - Parrikar
A situation was created under which Eurocopter was eliminated despite fulfilling all operational requirements - Parrikar
Why was only one vendor selected for the deal? Rules were flouted for the deal - Parrikar
There was corruption in AgustaWestland deal, says Manohar Parrikar
It is proved beyond doubt there is corruption in this deal, you (NDA government) have to act now - AK Antony
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is now speaking on the AgustaWestland debate.
MoD was contacting through MEA with the embassy in Rome, Government of Italy and prosecutor, Government in UK. When all attempts failed we became a party in the case, it is our willpower and determination to find out the truth, we fought the company - Antony
After the first report in media on alleged scam in helicopter deal, we acted immediately - AK Antony
The decision to change the height was taken by the then PMO and government (NDA) - AK Antony
UPA blacklisted six companies, something never done before. We have sent a message that India will not tolerate corruption, says Antony.
If you can find even an iota of truth in all the accusations being made, I will give up public life and resign, said Ahmed Patel just a while back.
Former defence minister AK Antony is now speaking.
My name only comes four times in the entire report (Italian court judgement). Does it say anywhere in the report that Congress leaders have taken bribe? And if anyone can prove that from this report, I will submit my resignation - Ahmed Patel
Congress' Ahmed Patel is now speaking. He says CAG should not be used as a tool for political bickering.
Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut is speaking in the Rajya Sabha, says Italy was connected to both the Bofors scandal as well as AgustaWestland scandal.
It was the UPA government which had filed a case in a Milan court after cancelling the AgustaWestland chopper deal to recover thew performance guarantee, and we managed to recover around Rs 2000 crores and also retained the three helicopters already supplied to us - Anand Sharma
NDA government had approved field trials outside the country - Sharma
What has been said here, attributing motives, insinuations, innuendos are without any foundation, malicious and motivated - Anand Sharma
Field eveluation trials of the AgustaWestland choppers were done in the United Kingdom and not Italy, as claimed by the BJP MP who is obsessed with that country - Swamy
It is wrong to say SPG was not consulted or that we created a single vendor situation - Sharma
We know their agenda and we are determined to fight and expose that agenda - Anand Sharma
We are in a system when new governments should not look into what the previous PMO was going - Sharma
This is a democracy. What has been referred to, must be authenticated by the government, put here and scrutinized legally - Anand Sharma
Sharma tells Treasury benches: Just wait and you will realise what king of gift you have brought in the House. You will realise when the direction of the cannon changes.
The reputation of many in the previous government including ours has been questioned - Anand Sharma
Congress leader Anand Sharma is now speaking.
Swamy reiterates his earlier remarks that money was also paid to the media to manage the deal, before concluding his speech.
Swamy agrees to authenticate the claims he has made, after concluding his speech.
Meanwhile, ANI reports that former IAF chief SP Tyagi will join ED investigation in the AgustaWestland case. He will also be called in for questioning by the CBI again.
Swamy says he simply quoted from the Italian court judgement, as uproar continues in the Rajya Sabha.
Which was the authority above Mr Antony who overruled him? From my personal knowledge I will say it wasn't Dr Manmohan Singh (the then PM) - Swamy
In September 2008, contract negotiations committee arbitrarily fixed Rs 4877.5 crores as the deal amount which was six times more the original estimate - Swamy
The Air Force in January 2006 gave their benchmark estimate for this deal as Rs 793 crores. This was approved by Mr AK Antony, the then defence minister - Swamy
Congress leaders say everything that Swamy has said should be authenticated.
Swamy speaks about the 'AP' mentioned in the middleman's note, says 'you know who it refers to' hinting at Sonia Gandhi.
When middleman Ralph Haschke was shown two photos during trial in the Italian court equivalent of High Court, he identified the two as AP and another person who I cannot name in the Parliament - Swamy
There's uproar in the Rajya Sabha
We will find out who all got the money and will put them in the right places - Swamy
BJP withdraws all other members who were to speak on the AgustaWestland debate as the time allotted to party is over. MoS PArliamentary Affairs MA Naqvi says Subramanian Swamy will be last from the party to speak on the matter.
The person who should be interrogated first should be the person who was the 'driving force' behind the deal - Swamy
They didn't use AW101 aircraft (which was bought) for field trials but used some other helicopter, which is a fraud in itself - Swamy
It's clear that there was corruption in the deal. It is clear that bribe was taken. It cannot be that only one person in the Air Force was involved. The Italian court judgement said servicemen, workers, politicians were involved too - Swamy
It was only the Euro helicopter which had met all the specifications - Swamy
Clear fraud in field trials of choppers that were conducted in Italy - Swamy
The original plan was to buy eight choppers and they (UPA) increased the number to 12 despite the CAG stating the present fleet of such choppers was hardly utilised - Swamy
It's a lie to say the NDA government changed the specifications of the choppers to be acquired regarding height - Swamy
AgustaWestland choppers had the capability to fly till a maximum height of only 4,500 metres - Swamy
Such helicopters should have a capability to fly till at least 6000 metres so that they can't be shot down by shoulder-rockets - Swamy
It is true NDA had initiated the process to buy 8 helicopters for VVIPs to replace 6 old choppers which were purchased in 1998 so that the VVIPs can fly to remote areas like Siachen, Northeast etc - Swamy
We are at the preliminary stage of prosecution - Swamy
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy is now speaking in the Rajya Sabha on the AgustaWestland issue.
CPI(M) member Tapan Kumar Sen adds to AgustaWestland debate.
Mayawati ends her speech.
The CBI should conduct all its investigations in the AgustaWestland deal under the supervision of Supreme Court: Mayawati in Rajya Sabha
The nation wants to know the reality behind the deal, says Mayawati.
The NDA government has been in power for two years and if it wished, it would have completed the investigation in it: Mayawati
It is a serious issue, hence we should not take this matter lightly, says Mayawati.
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati begins speech in the House.
Nobody should question the integrity of AK Antony but let me quote him from a very crucial interview. 'Yes corruption has taken place in the helicopter deal and bribes have been also taken. The CBI investigation in the deal is in a crucial state. We will not spare the culprits in the deal'. This could be a joint venture of BJP and Congress: TMC's Roy
You forfeited the bank guarantee, recovered money - that is appreciable. But my question has the bribe been recovered? This is my direct accusation against the government: TMC leader Sukhendu Shekar Roy
Trinamool Congress MP Sukhendu Roy participates in AgustWestland debate.
We're with you, if you go catch people who've done wrong, but no mudslinging and false accusations: Sharad Yadav to BJP
Sharad Yadav ends speech.
Why are you not letting Parliament function? Why aren't you doing something real and only giving lectures? All of this is based on a court in Italy, you have no CBI, ED over there. What are you fretting about?: Sharad Yadav
Your job is to investigate corruption. I request you to go and catch something – a person or a rat – something: JD(U)'s Sharad Yadav to BJP
When you sensationalise an issue like this, blow it out of proportion, it isn't nice: Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav
Singhvi says the events in the scam began from 2009. "This is a very interesting corruption charge. Rs 1,586 crore is the reported money the government paid this company. We have recovered Rs 2,062 crore by way of bank guarantee and a case we won. This is without counting the cost of the three helicopters which each cost Rs 300 crore. This is very interesting indeed."
If money has gone to someone, whose responsibility is it find out who it went to, asks Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav.
In 1999, the IAF made a suggestion to replace MI8 VVIP helicopters. It was Vajpayee Govt in power that time: AM Singhvi
Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav begins his speech in the House.
Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav asks the NDA government why it took them two years to raise the issue.
Shaakhon se toot jaye wo patte nahi hain hum, aandhiyon se keh do apni aukat mei rahein (We are not the leaves which will easily break off their branches. Tell the winds to stay within their bounds): Singhvi
Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi ends debate.
Targeting NDA, Singhvi says this "tainted" "bogus" company was allowed to participate in aero displays in Bengaluru in 2015.
Defending Congress leader Ahmed Patel, Singhvi clarified references to "AP" in documents, saying: "Just because you have inbuilt hatred for certain names doesn't mean they shall be put in place for initials used".
We have no evidence against Sonia Gandhi. Only a mention of her in the facts, as a person who will fly in these machines. The same holds true for Manmohan Singh. We have faith in the loosely translated report of a judge of another country but don`t trust our own courts, says Singhvi.
We need to have more sense than sensationalism, says Singhvi.
All defence procurements need to be made transparent, says Yadav in his initial remarks.
Without taking any name, Kirit Somaiya says a politician is involved in buying and selling properties, which was earlier done by his "jijaji" (brother-in-law) in Haryana.
Here is an insecure ruling party trying to foist a charge of corruption on persons unconnected, says Singhvi.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi begins his reply to BJP MP Bhupendra Yadav.
Why did UPA not initiate an investigation into who all took bribes in the AgustaWestland matter, asks BJP's Yadav.
This matter started in 2002, just wanted to inform the house the chronological order of events in the matter, without any comments: Manohar Parrikar
BJP MP Bhupendra Yadav accuses the Congress of helping AgustaWestland win the chopper contract by reducing the flying ceiling of the helicopter from 6,000 metre to 4,500 metre.
BJP MP Bhupendra Yadav starts the debate by stating facts for Congress on AgustaWestland scam in Parliament.
BJP MP Bhupendra Yadav says the debate is important because it's directly related to military and procurement for the nation’s defence.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who stood up to make a statement in the Rajya Sabha on AgustaWestland issue, was stopped by Congress members.
Amid chaos, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar says he just wanted to give chronology of the events.
A debate on AgustaWestland deal begins in Rajya Sabha.
Accepting the challenge from the BJP on fresh revelations pertaining to the AgustaWestland chopper deal, Congress president Sonia Gandhi says "They are most welcome" to present it.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya rakes up AgustaWestland issue in the Lok Sabha, demanding a probe to find out who received kickbacks in the deal for 12 VVIP helicopters. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Somaiya claims that two of the accused in the alleged scam -- Gautam Khaitan and Guido Haschke -- were also "involved" in other companies and as per a SEBI report, incorporated as directors in real estate company Emaar-MGF.
"There is a short duration discussion today after lunch. Manohar Parrikar will make the statement today. He is a studious person and he won`t make any statement unless there is something important to say. He is bound to digest all these Italian High Court`s judgments and CAG reports and so on in a way which ordinary people can understand," Swamy adds.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy says the criminal case behind the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal would be made clear during the discussion in the Rajya Sabha today. "The case will be made out. So far, facts have been floating. The fact is the whole thing fits into a criminal case. What is that criminal case, that will be made clear today," Swamy tells ANI.
The Congress may depute former defence minister AK Antony or even former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh to counter the charges from the treasury benches.
Senior Congress lawmaker Ahmed Patel will make a rare speech in the House today.
A Short Duration Discussion on the AgustaWestland issue is slated to take place in the Rajya Sabha today.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will make a statement in the Rajya Sabha at 2 pm. Reports are doing the rounds that Parrikar is expected to make "new revelations" in his statement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi this morning met senior ministers Manohar Parrikar, Rajnath Singh and Venkaiah Naidu ahead of a debate in Parliament on the AgustaWestland chopper scam.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi refuses to divulge details of her party's strategy to tackle allegations linking her and party leaders to bribes in the AgustaWestland. "You will see the strategy in the House," says Gandhi.
Congress on Tuesday went into a huddle to chalk out a strategy ahead of Defence Minister Manohor Parrikar's statement on the AgustaWestland deal in Parliament today. The senior Congress leaders went to party president Sonia Gandhi's residence last evening to discuss how to counter the BJP in Parliament on the AgustaWestland issue.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will on Wednesday speak on the AgustaWestland issue in Parliament and give a detailed chronology of the events. The minister had earlier said that the Congress needs to answer on its inaction in the probe on the deal which involved bribes being given in India. According to sources, officials at the Defence Ministry are scanning the documents related to the deal and the probe, as the government prepares to corner the opposition Congress on the issue.
New Delhi: A fierce debate was held in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday on the issue of alleged graft in the purchase of AgustaWestland VVIP helicopters, with both the ruling BJP and opposition Congress attacking each other.