Adityanath alleges Congress leaders got Rs 150 cr bribe in AgustaWestland deal

Attacking Congress over the AgustaWestland deal, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday alleged the party leaders had got Rs 150 crore bribe for the helicopters purchase transaction during the previous UPA regime.

He also alleged that the Congress party was party to multiple scams and it had played with the security of the country and its citizens.

Addressing a hurriedly-convened press conference here, Adityanath claimed the Rs 3,700 crore AugustaWestland deal during the UPA regime involved a bribery of around Rs 360 crore, out of which the Congress leaders got Rs 150 crore.

However, he did not elaborate on his claims.

The ruling BJP has stepped up its attack on the main opposition party and its leaders in the wake of the alleged reference made by Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland deal, about one "Mrs Gandhi", as told by the Enforcement Directorate to a court.

The Congress has, however, rejected the allegations and has counter-alleged that it was the Modi government that was a "protector, benefactor and promoter" of AgustaWestland as it lifted a ban imposed on the helicopter maker during the UPA rule and allowed it to bid for 100 naval utility helicopters.

The Congress has also said it will get the matter probed if it comes back to power in 2019.

Address a press conference in the national capital, former defence minister and senior Congress leader A K Antony Monday accused the BJP and the government of "manufacturing" lies in the AgustaWestland case and said Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi never interfered in any defence deals during the UPA regime.

At his press conference, Adityanath alleged the Congress did not leave any sector between 2004 and 2014 where it did not commit a scam, "be it jal (water), thal (earth), nabh (sky), antariksh (space) and pataal (underground)."