Both the BJP and the CPM have called for an enquiry into the Rs10,000 crore MRSAMs (Medium Range Surface To Air Missiles) deal between the ministry of defence and Israeli firm, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The CPM, citing reports by DNA, has demanded a CBI probe into the deal, and called for immediate cancellation of the contract pending investigation.
CPM’s Sitaram Yechury said that the deal was murky for several reasons, not least of which was the Rs600 crore “business service” charge paid out to alleged middlemen in the deal. The timing of the deal, just two days before the model code of conduct for General
Elections kicked in, was also suspect, he said. The CPM has forwarded a list of queries to the government (see box).
Meanwhile, the BJP on Saturday reiterated that the NDA, if it comes to power, would investigate the matter. BJP spokesperson Sidharth Nath Singh likened it to the Bofors scandal. “Surprisingly, the Congress-led UPA government has not learnt anything from the past,” said Singh. “In spite of a government policy of not dealing with any agency or industry being investigated in a corruption case or kickbacks, this government has gone against all norms and in a hush hush manner signed this deal a few days before the elections were announced,” he added.
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