VVIP Chopper Scandal is turning its point to politics, BJP party which slammed the issue of kickbacks in Defence Deal, its senior leader Jaswant Singh on Thursday came out in defence of former Air Chief SP Tyagi.
Talking to media, Mr. Singh said, “we should not make allegations against each other” till the truth is known.
Citing his own example, the former Defence and External Affairs Minister suggested not to alleged the former Air Chief Marshal Tyagi just because of he has cousins who are also known as Tyagis.
“One of my own cousins, first cousin, he was known as a smuggler. Does that make me a smuggler. If another relative of mine commits a crime, does that make me a criminal,” he added.
Mr. Singh’s remarks in support of Tyagi came when BJP is accusing the government on the VVIP chopper deal, comparing the scandal to Bofors scam of the late 1980s.
Accusing the government for tardy and unsatisfactory response and the defence ministry of sitting over the matter for about a year after the Italian investigators had indicated corruption in the deal, Singh demanded expeditious and thorough probe.
Singh said, “I am pained that the guilty here is the Italian company. It seems that we have forgotten them.”
Mr. Singh admitted that the tender specifications for purchase of AgustaWestland helicopters were changed during NDA rule by the then national security adviser (NSA), Late Brajesh Mishra.
Italian authorities accused Tyagi for taking bribe in the $750 million AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal through his cousins, but he denied all allegations.
