Bofors haunts congress again, 6 MPs suspended

New Delhi: The high-voltage political controversy of 1980s - the alleged kickback case over Bofors gun deal - that rocked the Rajiv Gandhi government - today returned to the political debate with the issue figuring in the Lok Sabha and the subsequent bedlam resulting in suspension of six Congress MPs.

The issue was raised in the Lower House of Parliament by BJP members Meenakshi Lekhi and Nishikant Dubey and both the ruling party members suggested that there was alleged foul play by the then Congress government and also that the Manmohan Singh government did not allow the CBI to pursue the legal wrangling and probe. "According to Lindstrom (Swedish police official Sten Lindstrom), the documents related to that discussion (between the two Prime Ministers) are still somewhere with the government.

To say that it is a 30 years old case and it should be forgotten is wrong, because when old issues are not settled and taken to a logical conclusion, their ghosts return to haunt," Ms Lekhi said during Zero Hour. While several Congresses and other opposition members were in the well protesting over cow-vigilante, Ms Lekhi demanded that the Bofors case be reopened. Another BJP Member Nishikant Dubey also insisted that the CBI probe should be re-opened as the CBI wanted to re-investigate the case. "CBI had sought permission earlier as well, but the UPA government did not allow," Mr Dubey said amid vociferous protests by Congress members. In fact, angry Congress Members even teared papers and threw them towards the chair.

The unruly behavior and "wilful obstructing" of proceedings resulted in naming and suspension of six Congress members from the House. Later, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar told reporters outside the House "it is sad" that the Congress members indulged in such behavior in the well of the House when Congress president Sonia Gandhi was on her seat.

The Bofors issue came into focus after sub-committee of Public Accounts Committee examining implementation of CAG report of 1989-90 suggested that the case of irregularities or alleged kickback in purchase of Bofors guns could be reopened as there were many "loopholes" in the investigation in the past. The Bofors case came into light during V P Singh's tenure as Defence Minister under Rajiv Gandhi and the Late Singh later joined Opposition rank and also became Prime Minister. (UNI)