The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a renewed attack on Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, citing information from the book ‘Bofors Gate – A Journalist’s Pursuit of Truth’. The BJP is calling for both leaders to resign from their positions as Members of Parliament until they provide a comprehensive disclosure regarding their connections with the alleged Italian middleman, Ottavio Quattrocchi.
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia highlighted that the book reveals significant information that raises serious concerns. He alleged that Quattrocchi used his close ties to then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and his wife, Sonia Gandhi, to manipulate and finalize defense contracts in India. The Congress party has yet to respond to these allegations.
Quattrocchi, who has passed away, has faced long-standing accusations of exploiting his relationship with Sonia Gandhi, also of Italian descent, and her husband to gain unfair advantages in Indian business dealings. He was implicated in the extensive Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into bribery allegations connected to the controversial Bofors gun deal, which first emerged in 1987 when it was reported by Swedish state radio.
Bhatia claimed that during Rajiv Gandhi’s administration, sensitive defense documents were directed to Quattrocchi to modify their contents in favor of particular companies.
The BJP leader further accused the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government of unfreezing Quattrocchi’s bank accounts in 2005 under Sonia Gandhi’s influence, asserting that this act represented a betrayal to the nation. He also alleged that the Rafale defense deal faced delays under the UPA government because the Gandhi family sought financial benefits from it.
Bhatia pressed for the resignation of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, stating, “They should step down until they fully disclose their family’s connection with Quattrocchi. They have no right to continue as MPs.” He also challenged Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, questioning whether he would prioritize the nation’s interest over supporting the “corrupt Gandhis.”
ABOUT ‘BOFORS GATE’
‘Bofors Gate’ narrates the intricate story of the Bofors deal, which emerged as one of modern India’s most controversial political issues.
The book documents the journey of a journalist who devoted years to uncovering a scandal worth 1.3 billion dollars stemming from this defense deal. The revelations derived from a significant volume of classified documents related to the case have remained largely unexamined, raising questions about political accountability.
The discussion around these documents indicates a reluctance from various political entities to confront their contents, suggesting widespread apprehension about uncovering damaging truths. The author has called them the ‘elephant in the room,’ implying that the silence surrounding these documents serves the interests of powerful political figures.
The Bofors controversy began in 1986 with India’s contract with the Swedish arms manufacturer for acquiring artillery guns, followed by allegations of bribery that tarnished the Rajiv Gandhi-led government’s credibility. The CBI’s investigation into the case has remained contentious, culminating in the case being closed in 2011 without any convictions.
