Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 5

Put everything about AgustaWestland scam on Parliament record, but without naming the Gandhis. This strategy was used by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar while speaking in the Rajya Sabha as he used words like “invincible hand” to refer to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. He is expected to use the same technique when the contentious issue comes up for discussion in the Lok Sabha tomorrow.“It appears that an invincible hand was guiding actions or inactions by the CBI and the ED,” Parrikar said while reading his long 10-page written statement that drew sharp criticism from not just the Congress, but also from some political observers who crititicised its extensive technical details.Significantly, the last page of his original statement also referred to Sonia Gandhi, her political secretary Ahmed Patel and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which BJP sources claim was struck off at the last moment. Eventually, Parrikar talked about the Italian court judgment without any names.All he said while referring to the judgment in the House was: “The text of the judgment also makes reference to various individuals such as Tyagi family as well as some bureaucrats.”As per BJP sources, the aim of the long statement was to ensure that each and every aspect of the scam went down in Parliament records without being expunged. It also indicates that certain names may not be part of the judgment. In any case, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted praise for Defence Minister’s speech in the Rajya Sabha, terming it one of the “best speeches” displaying best parliamentary traditions”.“Yesterday’s speech by RM @manoharparrikar in the Rajya Sabha was one of the best speeches, displaying best parliamentary traditions,” he said.

Modi pat

Yesterday’s speech by RM@manoharparrikar in the Rajya Sabha was one of the best speeches, displaying best parliamentary traditions… RM@manoharparrikar rose above politics & placed all relevant facts on the table. Urging you all to hear his speech. — Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

Khaitan got payment from middlemen: CBI

• The CBI on Thursday claimed that former board member of Aeromatrix Gautam Khaitan has accepted taking payments from Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, middlemen in the Agusta Westland Chopper deal, but rejected allegations that it was part of any kickback
• “He has agreed taking payment from European middlemen Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa. However, we do not agree with the purpose behind the payment which has been cited by him,” CBI sources said

ED questions IAF ex-Chief Tyagi

• Former Indian Air Force Chief SP Tyagi was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for the first time in connection with AgustaWestland case on Thursday
• His statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at ED’s zonal office in central Delhi
• Earlier, Tyagi was quizzed by the CBI in connection with the case on Monday and Tuesday