NDA leaders demand questioning Sonia in Bofors case

New Delhi, Feb 26 (UNI) Demanding the questioning of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in the Bofors pay-off scandal, NDA Convenor and former Defence Minister George Fernandes today said the government must ensure that the team being sent to Argentina will not suppress information once again.

Quoting a letter written by former Swedish principal investigator Sten Lindstorm, Mr Fernandes said he had felt that questioning of Ms Gandhi was a ''must'' to unravel the truth hidden for nearly two and a half decades.

Mr Fernandes told newspersons in the Parliament complex that the CBI and other Indian agencies should not waste time in identifying Mr Quattrocchi, now detained by Argentinian authorities. He demanded that under no circumstances the Government should withdraw the ''Red Corner Notice'' issued against the Italian middleman ever since he fled India during the Congress rule under P V Narasimha Rao.

Detailing the procedures adopted at all International Airports on every Red Corner notice, Mr Fernandes said the suspect's pictures were flashed on the television screens regularly mentioning the colour of his eyes and also a short telex message to the investigation agency.

The Indian investigating agencies were doing their best to delay the probe and keep the news of his arrest under wraps, he claimed.

BJP Parliamentary Party Spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said the NDA had given notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee seeking suspension of the Question Hour and asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to clarify the reason behind the suppression of the news of Quattrocchi's arrest by the Interpol.

''We had also sought answers regarding the presence of Quattrocchi's son in India after his arrest for three days,'' he said.

He said the NDA had urged the Railway Minister to lay the papers on the table of the House as it would not have created problems and the Prime Minister should have made the statement.

Besides the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee and the CBI Director knew about his arrest, and all of them were parties to the suppression of the news. He said Quattrocchi's 'family relations' with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was in ''everybody's knowledge'' and it was not personal relationship as the government wanted the people to believe.

The slogan shouting NDA MPs forced the Railway Minister to lay the papers on the table of the House after he made an effort in vain to read the budget speech amid interruptions.

UNI