Even as the Rajya Sabha gets ready to take up a discussion on the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter scam on Wednesday, the Congress has mounted pressure on the Centre for a discussion on the alleged Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) scam. The Upper House witnessed repeated adjournments on the issue on Monday.
The party’s demand for a discussion based on the CAG reports tabled in the Gujarat Assembly on the GSPC’s alleged mismanagement was rejected by the Centre on Monday. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the Public Accounts Committee of the Gujarat Assembly is looking into the issue and the Congress is using the matter to divert attention of the public from the Agusta scam.
The Congress responded by saying that the Centre is running away from discussions. “The BJP leaders and Ministers always used to say that they are ready for any discussions on any issues. But when it comes to GSPC, they do not want a debate. It is a corruption amounting to ₹19,000 crore,” party leader Jairam Ramesh told reporters after the party raised the matter in the Rajya Sabha. Ramesh insisted that since the Agusta issue will be discussed on Wednesday, the GSPC scam should also be discussed under the same rule.
In the House, the Congress said the Centre is selectively leaking matter on the chopper scam to the media. “A subject which has been bullentined for discussion on May 4, individuals, various TV channels, journalists have been given sensitive documents of the CBI, ED and Defence Ministry...Who gave the documents? There should be an inquiry...,” Deputy Leader of Congress Anand Sharma said. Earlier, Senior TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy asked the Centre to give details of persons who are involved in the scam. His Zero Hour notice was rejected by the Chairman, but he and his party colleagues created a ruckus demanding a discussion in the House. He was suspended for a day as the commotion continued.