India shows way to Italy to deny the scandal – February 14. 2013 – News n Analysis by Dr. Raj Baldev, Cosmo Theorist, on the approach of the UPA Govt. Is it the right attitude of the Defence Minister who openly declared repeatedly to blacklist the firm and cancel the deal for the remaining choppers?
The Indian Govt. has threatened on Thursday to blacklist Italian firm Finmeccanica and would take drastic action of blacklisting it. To do it, they have asked for the details of bribe which the Italian firm paid to Indians alleged to have helped in getting the deal of coppers matured.
I beg to differ from the approach of Defence Minister AK Anthony, the strategy of action as the Indian Govt. has taken the issue of kickback in the VVIP Chopper deal strongly and clearly suggests to the Italian firm and its Govt. to hide the facts so that they should not be damaged by blacklisting or cancellation of the order of 9 pending choppers, or both.
The Indian Govt.is asking Finmeccanica to state whether any money was illegally paid to any Indian entity or individual coupled with a warning of blacklisting it, I don’t think Italian Govt. or its firm shall do it, since no one would like to slit one’s own throat.
Under the attack over alleged payment of kickbacks to the tune of Rs 362 crore in the Rs 3,600 crore deal, the Defence Ministry also threatened to take legal action, including cancellation of the contract and recovery of money paid for the deal in case it is proved.
In this openly publicized case by the Govt., why Italy govt. or its firm would like to come forward and cooperate with the Indian Govt. to get their order cancelled or to be blacklisted; naturally the better option for them is to hide the facts and this shall also help the Indian UPA Govt. to save its face in Parliament to prove their character clean and clear.
If Italy denies, which shall do it in self defence, the proposed attack of BJP would go fall flat, the question of any Supreme Court-monitored probe could not arise.
The Indian govt. has given a clear signal to the Italian Govt. to keep quiet since the elections are fast approaching, and by hiding the facts, they can help their own country on one side and would also help save Indian Govt. to answer the adversaries of the deal in Parliament.
The former Defence minister Jaswant Singh has, however, come to the rescue of former Air Chief SP Tyagi, saying allegations should not be made before truth is known.
Even otherwise, the deal may reverse back despite the statement of Italian Prosecutors who named three cousins of Tyagi and alleged to have received a bribe of Rs. 72.00 lakh to get the requisite specifications as stated in the court that three cousins of Tyagi had been paid bribes to the tune of Rs 72 lakh to get the requisite specifications for the tender changed through the then Air Chief Marshal.
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