'AP' Who? One Heads Gujarat Too: Congress Counter On AgustaWestland Deal

New Delhi: There are many "APs" in India including the Gujarat Chief Minister, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said as he refuted in Parliament allegations against his party in the AgustaWestland chopper deal.

The initials "AP" listed in Italian court documents among those who allegedly took bribes to help Agusta win the contract for the supply of a dozen VVIP choppers to India has been widely speculated to represent Ahmed Patel, a close aide of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

"Now let's move to the AP. There are many APs in the country. Including one leading Gujarat," Mr Singhvi said, referring to Anandiben Patel.

Mr Singhvi referred to quotes attributed by news reports to Guido Haschke, a middleman hired by Agusta allegedly to pay kickbacks to Indian decision-makers.

"Haschke says I do not know what AP stands for. From open sources, on the internet, we found AP was Ahmed Patel," Mr Singhvi said.

"We should not have double standards. Initials have no evidentiary value. Anyone can write a diary and any initials."

The Congress leader emphasised on his point by liberally using initials, especially for Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, who are members of the Lok Sabha.

"Let's talk about VP (Rahul Gandhi, the Congress Vice President). An MP suggests that because that VP's secretary has been in a company with Hasche, then trail leads to VP. VP aide has never been a shareholder or stakeholder in company mentioned. Not director," he said.

Then he added: "Enough about AP, VP and CP (Congress President Sonia Gandhi)."

In response, the BJP's Subramanian Swamy scoffed: "Then the Italians must be crazy people to give money to an AP who has nothing to do with the UPA government."

Later, in a rare speech in Rajya Sabha, Ahmed Patel said, "If you find an iota of truth in Agusta allegations I will resign and quit public life."