Corruption Watch

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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Cong’s farewell gift to nation-in-law: Jaitley</b>
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
<b>Quattrocchi walks free, courtesy Govt</b>
The Congress got it from left and right on Tuesday as CBI’s recommendation to withdraw Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Bofors scam accused Ottavio Quattrocchi created a political furore, arming the BJP with fresh ammunition in the midst of the Lok Sabha poll.

From the BJP to Left and Mayawati to Nitish Kumar - all smelled a “political conspiracy” behind the CBI’s decision — that, according to Leader of opposition LK Advani, highlighted the uncertainty in the Congress about their chances to return to power.

Accusing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi of colluding in the conspiracy to forever bury the truth about Bofors, Advani said in Ahmedabad: <b>“The Congress was not going to come to power. Else, they would have waited for the election to get over and then take this step</b>.” Advani went on to predict that the ruling party would be “punished for its sins” in the same way as in 1989.

Meanwhile, an application has been moved in the Supreme Court challenging the CBI’s decision. The urgent application filed by advocate Ajay Agrawal sought the direction of the apex court to stay the operation of any withdrawal of the RCN against Quattrocchi who has not submitted himself to Indian court in connection with the Bofors case.

Agrawal, who had earlier moved the apex court in January 2006 against the defreezing of Quattrocchi’s bank account in London, sought issuance of Red Corner Notice again. Agrawal said the Interpol should be informed immediately so that Quattrocchi could be nabbed and produced before an Indian court.

The development came as a big embarrassment for the Congress and the BJP did not waste time in raising the anti-corruption pitch. BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley said if elected to power the NDA Government would constitute a commission to probe into cases wherein the CBI colluded with the high-profile accused to bail them out. This commission would also suggest remedial measures on how the independence and autonomy of the CBI can be restored.

<b>“Quattrocchi has been a close friend of the Congress leadership. At the time of its departure, the Government is giving a farewell gift to the citizen of a privileged country. It is almost like a farewell gift to a nation-in-law,” </b>Jaitley told reporters here.

Advani, who described the latest development as the last nail in the coffin of judicial process in respect of the Bofors scandal, also promised to examine the Quattrocchi issue after being voted to power”.

<b>“It is obvious that he (Manmohan Singh) and his Government have acted under instruction from 10 Janpath. His silence over the past five years on the systematic misuse of the CBI and the Law Ministry confirms his guilt,” </b>Advani told reporters in Ahmedabad.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati who had a blow-hot-blow-cold relationship with the CBI also shared Advani’s sentiments that the latest development was an <b>“act of desperation” by the Congress</b>.

<b>“Our Government demands from the Centre to immediately revoke the CBI decision to give clean chit to Italian businessman Quattrocchi, who is an accused in Bofors payoff scam. Strict action should be taken against culprits of the scam,” </b>she told reporters in Lucknow
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