AgustaWestland row an attempt to divert attention from Uttarakhand crisis: Harish Rawat

Ousted Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Friday alleged that the BJP-led NDA Government was highlighting the AgustaWestland chopper deal so that it does not face criticism in the ongoing Budget Session over its unwarranted move to impose President's rule in Uttarakhand.

"When the UPA regime came to know that rules of the contract have been violated and there may be some higher ups involved, then the government took the decision that this should be scrapped and the company should be blacklisted.It was also decided to forfeit the amount. It is being said that one middleman, who suffered losses is making some statements," Rawat told ANI here.

"The NDA Government thought of using this (AgustaWestland row) because the manner in which they have murdered democracy in Uttarakhand and imposed President's rule without any basis. The manner in which sides were changed here on the power of money. There is a strong reaction out here; the people were criticizing the move. It began to be thought as to what was the need for Modi ji to take such steps. So, this all has been done to divert the attention from the same," he added a day after the Uttarakhand Nainital High Court once again adjourned the hearing on the disqualification of nine rebel Congress MLAs till May 9.

The government has said that it would leave no stone unturned to bring to justice the corrupt and wrong doers in the AgustaWestland chopper deal.

In a clarification, the Defence Ministry said in New Delhi corruption is the core issue in the case and the corrupt will be brought to book.

The Defence Ministry said the CBI and Enforcement Directorate are vigorously pursuing all aspects of the investigation.

Recently, an Italian court had observed that there is a reasonable belief of corruption in the chopper deal. The deal is related to purchase of 12 helicopters for VVIPs from Italian manufacturer, Finmeccanica during the UPA rule.