AgustaWestland Dominates Rajya Sabha even as Vijay Mallya Resigns

The Quint brings you the latest updates from the Budget Session of Parliament.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar addressing the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, 4 May 2016. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

Tap to refresh

• Vijay Mallya’s resignation accepted in the Rajya Sabha.
  
• RS Ethics Committee had recommended immediate expulsion of Vijay Mallya.
  
• Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar addressed the RS.
  
• Subramanian Swamy claims that he has provided grounds for prosecution of UPA government members.
  
• BJP MP Kirit Somaiya raised the Emaar-MGF connection with the AgustaWestland case in RS.
  
• Home Minister Rajnath Singh denies ISIS threat to India.
  
• Home MoS Kiren Rijiju assures security in places which have real threat.
  
• BJP MP Tarun Vijay sought suspension of RS over rape and murder case of law student in Kerala.
  

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 8:34 PM

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day. Lok Sabha was also adjourned minutes after the Rajya Sabha.

The adjournment came after Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Gupta pointed out that due to the cuts in funds for MNREGA, this year, 58 percent wages will not reach the people provided on time.

Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Gupta in the House on Wednesday, 4 May 2016. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

He also pointed out that 30 percent of the funds provided through this year’s budget will also be utilised to pay the employment seekers from last year.

The issue, said Gupta, was raised on various government platforms.

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 8:23 PM

Watch the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha live:

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 7:33 PM

Congress Walks Out of RS

The members of the Congress party walked out of the Rajya Sabha after Parrikar finished his address in the House.

Congress members walking out of the Rajya Sabha as BJP member Venkaiah Naidu speaks on Wednesday, 4 May 2016. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

Even as the Congress members walked out of the House, BJP member and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu questioned the request of the Supreme Court intervention in the CBI probe in AgustaWestland deal.

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 7:55 PM

Vijay Mallya’s Resignation Accepted in RS

Deputy Speaker of Rajya Sabha PJ Kurien announced that the resignation letter by Vijay Mallya was accepted. Mallya will not be a member of the House with effect from 4 May 2016. The letter which was dated 3 May 2016 was received and accepted by Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari.

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 7:35 PM

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar alleged that the Enforcement Directorate and CBI were stopped from taking action on an FIR which was filed in the case close to a year before the current government took over.

Government of India (UPA) instead of taking action against the company [named in a case in Italy], adopted route of writing to External Affairs Ministry, Embassy and the court. It was only in January 2014 when the contract was terminated.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in the Rajya Sabha

Parrikar also claimed that had the contract been terminated as soon as the corruption in the case was pointed out, the advance payment in the deal could have been recovered.

Congressman Ghulam Nabi Azad called Parrikar’s claims an insult to the concept of discussion in the House whereas Janata Dal (United) member Sharad Yadav countered Parrikar’s claims by asking him to take action on his claims against Congress.

Sharad Yadav of JD(U) in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, 4 May 2016. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 7:21 PM

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in RS

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar reiterated two of the three points made by Subramanian Swamy. The height of flight and the height of the cabin was changed to favor a particular vendor, he pointed out.

The country wants to know as to who instigated, supported and benefited from corruption. We can’t let this pass. The fact that there was corruption in the matter is brought out in extensive details in recent judgments of Milan court. 

Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister in Rajya Sabha

Ruckus in Rajya Sabha after Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar starts his address in the House on Wednesday, 4 May 2016. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

Parrikar repeatedly quoted the CAG report which claims that a particular aircraft was preferred over five other vendors bidding for the defence deal.

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 6:59 PM

“Don’t Threaten,” AK Antony Tells Swamy

Former Defence Minister and Congress member AK Antony quoted an official release from a meeting in February 2003 which was called by the Principal Secretary of the then Prime Minister.

In the meeting, the decisions related to the change in the height of flight and the height of the cabinet was made. In 2003, India was under the NDA regime which is currently in power.

Former Defence Minister and Congress member AK Antony in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, 4 May 2016. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

One of the grounds for prosecution suggested by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy was that the height of flight and cabinet was tweaked so that AgustaWestland became the only company which could provide it.

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 6:35 PM

Ahmed Patel Addressed Rajya Sabha

Indian National Congress member from Gujarat, Ahmed Patel said in the Rajya Sabha that he will give up his public life if the allegations against him are found to be true.

If you can find even an iota of truth in all the accusations being made, I will give up public life and resign. 

Ahmed Patel, INC, Gujarat

Congress member from Gujarat, Ahmed Patel. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 6:03 PM

Before agreeing to authenticate the documents he quoted from, Subramanian Swamy said:

Six million Euros were given to Christian Michel to manage Indian media in favour of the deal. Journalists from India were consistently writing in favour of the deal and against the people who criticised it – in print and in visual media.

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 5:36 PM

Furore in RS Over VVIP Chopper Deal Middleman’s Letter

Subramanian Swamy says he quoted the letter which was used by Ghulam Nabi Azad in the House earlier.

According to Swamy, the letter written by Christian Michel – the fugitive middleman in the VVIP chopper deal – was also quoted by the Italian court in its judgement. It reads, he says:

Mrs Sonia Gandhi is the main driving force behind this deal and she will no longer fly in Mi8.

The Rajya Sabha proceedings on Wednesday, 4 May 2016. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

While Swamy refused to authenticate the letter until Abhishek Manu Singhvi authenticated it, Jayram Ramesh and Ghulam Nabi Azad of the Congress party rose in opposition against Swamy’s claims.

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 5:35 PM

Congress member Anand Sharma snubbed Subramanian Swamy and reiterating Congress’ stance on the matter, asked for proof and sources of Swamy’s claims.

Watch the proceedings of the House live:

The Congress party held a meeting on Monday to address the questions raised against the party in the AgustaWestland deal.

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 5:37 PM

Subramanian Swamy Addresses RS

BJP member Subramanian Swamy addressed the Rajya Sabha and presented various grounds on which he claims the Congress party members can be prosecuted. He said:

The international norm for a choppers cabin height is 1.45 meters. Most Indians are not above 1.7 meters. The parameter was changed by the UPA government. The issue is there is no other helicopter which is above 1.45 meters. This was clearly a plot to make sure that only one company gets the deal.

BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, 4 May 2016. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

The aircraft AW101, which they bought, was not subjected to field trial. The field trial is supposed to be done on the helicopter you are buying. And I understand that Italy is a nice country but they should be prosecuted for this. The original proposal was to buy 8 helicopters. But after it was made clear that Agusta was the only one to provide these, 4 more were added to the list. And the usage of these aircrafts was only 29 percent. What was the need for those extra four helicopters?

BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, 4 May 2016. (Photo Courtesy: RSTV)

The benchmark estimate provided by the Air Force was Rs 793 crore. Defence Minister AK Antony had approved this. But the Contract Negotiation Committee arbitrarily fixed Rs 4877.5 crore. This is even in the CAG report. Which authority above Mr Anthony approved this? But when AgustaWestland said we want only Rs 3960 crore, the deal was complete.

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 6:15 PM

Watch the Rajya Sabha proceedings live here:

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 4:01 PM

D Raja Seconds Mayawati

Communist Party of India (CPI) member D Raja has also sought the intervention of the Supreme Court in the investigation of the AgustaWestland deal. However, he did not discredit the CBI. He said:

There are criticisms against the CBI but we should respect the premier investigation agency. I will not blame the jawans for corruption in defence deals. It is done on a higher level. I urge the government to speed up the investigation and provide a timeframe for the completion of the probe.

Corruption is eating the vitals of our democratic polity, he added.

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 5:43 PM

ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT

Mayawati Seeks SC-Investigation in Chopper Deal

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mayawati sought the Supreme Court’s intervention in the investigation of the AgustaWestland case. She said:

The Supreme Court should monitor the investigation in the AgustaWestland deal. Because the popular belief in recent times has been that the CBI is politicised.

The matter is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Former Indian Air Force Chief SP Tyagi is being questioned in the matter.

If the Supreme Court is involved, the matter will induce less blame-game, she observed. She did not fail to mention that the demand has been made in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 5:45 PM

BJP Launches Attack on Congress

BJP MP Bhupendra Yadav leads the charge against the Congress on behalf of the government.

The UPA government changed three aspects of the helicopter tender. It went out of the way to accommodate Agusta. During the UPA regime, corruption entered all aspects of governance. It is our responsibility to bring transparency in defence deals. Why did UPA not initiate an investigation into who all took bribes in the matter?

Bhupendra Yadav

Abhishek Manu Singhvi responds to Bhupendra Yadav on behalf of the Congress.

This is the case of an insecure, disillusioned ruling party trying to foist a charge on persons entirely unconnected. No one is saying that the deal was flawless – we cancelled it. There is no evidence against Sonia Gandhi or Manmohan Singh. There is no finding by the ED or the CBI that implicates Sonia Gandhi or Manmohan Singh; only a distortion of the Italian court’s ruling. 

Abhishek Manu Singhvi

He added that Ahmed Patel was villified without any concrete proof. He also lambasted the BJP government, saying that they allowed the ‘tainted’ ‘bogus’ company to participate in Bengaluru’s Aero Show in 2015.

On-Field Trials Abroad

A field trial abroad is neither unheard of or prohibited. You are damaging the investigation by your finger-pointing. You cannot intimidate us so easily.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi

Ram Gopal Yadav, Samajwadi Party MP said that Agusta is proof that no lesson have been learned.

Agusta shows we learnt nothing from the Bofors scam.

Ram Gopal Yadav

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 5:47 PM

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2.10 pm.

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 1:18 PM

In the Lok Sabha, BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi discussed the Jisha rape and murder case in Kerala. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Venkaiah Naidu said that the case should not be made political.

I will convey to the Home Minister and ask him to take the report from the state government. This issue shouldn’t be made political.

Venkaiah Naidu

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 1:14 PM

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm.

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 1:04 PM

In Lok Sabha, Kirit Somaiya raises the Emaar-MGF connection in the AgustaWestland case and demands that Rahul Gandhi come clean on the issue.

According to Somaiya’s allegations, Guido Haschke, one of three middlemen of the deal whom India wants to quiz, served as a director in 2009 in real estate major Emaar-MGF. This real estate company, according to Somaiya, was promoted by Kanishka Singh’s family. Singh is one of the top political advisors of Rahul Gandhi and is considered very close to him.

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 12:46 PM

ISIS Threat? No, Says Home Minister

No alarming situation in the nation relating to ISIS as of now. India’s Muslim community is committed to life values of the nation.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 1:07 PM

Mallya’s Expulsion Recommended

Rajya Sabha Ethics Committee recommends the immediate expulsion of Vijay Mallya. The committee adopts the draft report to that effect.

By taking such a stern action, a message will be sent that Parliament is committed to taking steps against erring members. 

RS Ethics Committee

The report has been submitted to the House, has mentioned that Vijay Mallya be expelled from Rajya Sabha. We want to send a message that when things go wrong like this, Parliament is prepared to take action even against its own members.

Karan Singh, BJP Leader

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 12:46 PM

Kerala Dalit Law Student Rape and Murder

The brutal rape and murder of Dalit law student Jisha from Perumbavoor, Kerala has been raised in the Rajya Sabha.

BJP MP Tarun Vijay gave notice to suspend business in the House over the matter. The Chair has allowed him to raise the matter in zero hour.

BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi will raise the matter in the Lok Sabha during zero hour.

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 12:15 PM

On Vijay Mallya’s Resignation

Dr Karan Singh has presented the Ethics Committee report on the expulsion of Vijay Mallya from the Rajya Sabha in the House.

Mallya submitted his resignation as Member of Parliament to the Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari but it was rejected on technical grounds.

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 11:28 AM

Face off. (Photo: The Quint)

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 12:51 PM

AgustaWestland and Emaar-MGF Connection

Even as the link between Emaar-MGF and the AgustaWestland chopper deal gets stronger, fresh revelations about Rahul Gandhi owning shops in the Metropolitan Mall in South Delhi has added a new dimension to the allegations against Gandhi.

Responding to BJP Lok Sabha MP Kirit Somaiya questions about him purchasing shops in the mall, a defensive Rahul Gandhi said:

Yes I did, and it is on my affidavit. What is wrong in it?

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 11:29 AM

Manohar Parriker will lead the charge against the Congress on the AgustaWestland issue. Former Defence Minister and Congress Rajya Sabha MP AK Antony will lead the Congress’ defence.

Congress MPs Anand Sharma and Abhishek Manu Shinghvi will assist AK Antony.

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 11:35 AM

You Will See Our Strategy in the House, Says Sonia Gandhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu ahead of today’s session.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi chaired a crucial strategy meet to discuss the party’s strategy for the day on the AgustaWestland issue as the Defence Minister prepares to place documents connected to the deal before the Rajya Sabha.

You will see our strategy in the House.

Sonia Gandhi, Congress President

The BJP has already targeted Sonia Gandhi as one of the main beneficiaries in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal.

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 11:28 AM

AgustaWestland and Repeated Adjournments

The issue has rocked both Houses of Parliament and led to repeated adjournments ever since the second half of the Budget session reconvened on 25 April.

Parrikar had on Saturday said the previous UPA dispensation will have to answer who received the alleged kickbacks in the AgustaWestland chopper deal.

(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)

Updated at:4th May, 2016 at 10:51 AM