NEW DELHI: The Union Government came in for sharp attack from the Opposition in both Houses of Parliament Aug4 for allowing the Italian businessman, Ottavio Quattrochi, to leave the Country after the confirmation by the Swiss court that he was one of the seven appellants who sought to block the investigations into the kickbacks relating to the Bofors gun deal. Raising the issue during the zero hour, Yashwant Sinha (SJP) Wanted to know what the Government was doing when the prime Suspect in the Bofors payoffs case was leaving the country, “Someone from the Government should answer, If this is not collusion, what is it?”; The entire Opposition supported the demand raised by Singh and the Leader of the Opposition, Sikandar Bakht charged the Government with deliberately letting Quattrochi leave India. He maintained that the Opposition had warmed the Government about Such a possibility and demanded that the Government ensure that Quattrochi did not leave the country.
S.Jaipal Reddy (JD) accused the Government of Stage-managing the migration of Quattrochi from the country and demanded that the Government be directed to give a Statement on how the CBI had allowed the departure.
The Deputy Chairperson pointed out that the inconclusive discussion on Bofors would be taken up soon. However, she stuck to her ruling that she would not allow the members to raise any discussion on the subject.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 13, 1993
