Opposition attacks Cong on Quattrocchi issue

On the issue of scrapping Bofors payoff accused Ottavio Quattrocchi’s name from CBI’s wanted list and recommendation by it to the Interpol to remove red corner notice against the accused, the Congress, which has repeatedly been accused of using CBI for its political benefit, has again come on the opposition’s attack.

Further, the Union Law Minister’s statement that CBI acted on the advice of government-appointed attorney general added fuel to the fire.

BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L K Advani accused the Congress-led UPA government of using CBI for political purpose. The latest development acted as the “last nail in the coffin of the judicial process” regarding the Bofors scandal, Advani told reporter accusing both the Prime Minister and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who is said to be closed to Quattrocchi, guilty.

The BJP leader vociferously said the move is out of frustration of the UPA government since it has felt that the party is not going to come to power. If this were not true the UPA would have waited for elections to get over.

BJP accused the Congress of turning the “Central Bureau of Investigation” into a “Congress Bureau of Investigation” and branded the decision a farewell gift from the government to Quattrocchi, a close friend of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

UP Chief Minister Mayawati, whom the senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh threatened lately to use CBI against her, said: “This is a most unfortunate decision and I demand from the Centre to immediately intervene in the matter in order to bring Quattrocchi to the book.”

The manner in which the decade old wanted Bofors accused was given relief by the Central Bureau of Investigation by deleting his name from the list of most wanted persons is not only surprising but also disturbing, she said.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also accused the Central government for misusing CBI. “There are many questions which have remained unanswered in this case. Doubts will continue to be in the minds of the people,” he said adding the age-old Bofors issue is not going to put any impact on the election’s outcome, if the Congress thinks so.

Meanwhile, removal of Quattrocchi’s name from CBI’s wanted list in the Rs 64 crore Bofors scam was challenged in the Supreme Court Tuesday minutes before the closure of the court for the day.