Launching a direct and one of the most vitriolic attacks on UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the success of his government in the extradition of Christian Michel, a middleman in the AgustaWestland chopper deal, will expose the alleged corruption that took place in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal during the tenure of the UPA government.
Addressing an election rally in Sumerpur, Rajasthan, he said Michel, a British national, has taken Sonia Gandhi’s name in the alleged wrongdoings in the chopper deal. He also said that his government succeeded in the Supreme Court when it said the government had all the right to reassess the past income tax returns of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, who have been claiming that their assessment is “final” after doing “loot”. “Let us see, how long will you escape (in the case),” he said.
Targeting Robert Vadra, Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law, PM Modi said he will not be spared once the BJP forms the government in the state and a similar fate would also befell former finance minister P Chidambaram.
Using the “namdaar” jibe, the Prime Minister said those leaders, whose four generations ruled the country, had to knock the doors of court and were out on bail and would not be spared.
“You must have read in today’s newspapers about VVIP helicopter scam of thousands of crore. You would be aware about a letter of Madam Sonia Gandhi. When we came to power to find out the files. We kept searching for it and finally found a ‘razdar’ (one who knows all secrets).
“He was a middleman of England, who was living in Dubai. He used to serve the friends of ‘namdaar’ in Dubai. The government has brought him to India. This ‘razdar’ will reveal the secrets. Don’t know where and how far it will go,” he said.
Michel was extradited to India on Tuesday night from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and was taken straight to the CBI headquarters from the airport for interrogation.
Using the ‘chaiwala’ sobriquet, he said he was able to do so because of the people who voted him to power.
“Why those who did corruption are on bail today? Why the sons of these corrupt are in jail today? How this ‘razdar’ was brought to India?” he asked the people and answered it himself saying this was possible because of their one vote.
Referring to the controversial land deal in Barmer district of Rajasthan, PM Modi hit out at Vadra and accused the Congress of betraying the farmers claiming that if the BJP forms the government in the state he (Vadra) would not be spared.
“One relative of ‘namdaar’ snatched the farmers land almost free of cost with the help of then Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and earned crores of money without any investment. Those who looted the money can’t be spared. They must be punished. But it won’t be possible if Congress forms its government. If the BJP forms its government in the state, he will surely be punished,” Modi said.
Hitting out indirectly at Chidambaram for his alleged involvement in the INX Media money laundering case and the arrest of his son Karti, who is out on bail, PM Modi said, “Every time he pleads for next date in the court. How long will you take relief from the court? The judgement will come some day and you will be behind the bars.”