The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its campaign against Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. On Tuesday, they cited new revelations from journalist Chitra Subramaniam’s book, Bofors Gate – A Journalist’s Pursuit of Truth. The BJP demands that both leaders step down as Members of Parliament until they disclose their alleged connections with Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi. The BJP targets the Gandhi family, claiming these ties raise significant concerns about transparency and accountability.
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia asserted that Subramaniam’s book reveals critical details about Quattrocchi’s influence over Indian defense deals through his close ties to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and his wife, Sonia Gandhi. Quattrocchi, now deceased, has long faced accusations of exploiting his association with the Gandhi family for personal gain, particularly concerning the controversial Bofors gun deal.
Key Allegations against the Gandhi Family
Bhatia further alleged that during Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure, key defense documents were provided to Quattrocchi for modifications that favored certain companies. He accused the Congress-led UPA government of defreezing Quattrocchi’s bank accounts in 2005 at the behest of Sonia Gandhi, labeling it an act of betrayal. Moreover, he claimed that the Rafale defense deal faced delays under the UPA due to financial interests linked to the Gandhi family.
Bhatia also challenged Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. He urged Kharge to choose between standing with the nation or defending the Gandhi family. This confrontation reflects the BJP’s strategy to leverage public sentiment against the Congress leadership.
Bofors Gate: The Book’s Key Claims
Subramaniam’s book details her decade-long investigative efforts into the Bofors scandal, which surfaced in 1987. It highlights a wealth of Swiss documents handed to the CBI in 1997, consisting of over 5 million pages that remain unopened. The book criticizes successive Indian governments for neglecting to examine these crucial files. Subramaniam describes these unopened documents as the “elephant in the room,” questioning why even the NDA, which rose to power on an anti-corruption platform, has not investigated them.
The book concludes with a poignant statement: “The unopened boxes with the CBI contain the self-respect of India.” This assertion emphasizes the need for accountability and transparency in governance.
The Bofors Scandal: A Brief Background
The Bofors controversy began with a 1986 defense deal where India purchased 400 Howitzer guns from Swedish arms manufacturer AB Bofors for ₹1,437 crore. In 1987, Swedish radio reported that bribes had been paid to Indian politicians and officials to secure the contract. This scandal severely undermined Rajiv Gandhi’s government, and although the CBI filed charges, the case eventually closed in 2011 without convictions.
As the BJP targets the Gandhi family with these new disclosures, the controversy continues to loom over Congress leadership. For more insights, visit The Hans India.
