Kottayam: Senior Congress leader A. K. Antony on Tuesday demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks against Congress president Sonia Gandhi. He said Mr Modi's speech in the state capital was unbecoming of a Prime Minister and he brought disrepute to the position.
However, he added that he did not expect the PM to apologise because he had not apologised for the Godhra violence. Mr Antony was responding to Mr Modi’s statement on Sunday referring to Ms Gandhi's Italian origin over the AgustaWestland helicopter deal, saying ‘everyone knows who has an Italian connection.'
In an emotionally surcharged reaction to reporters here, he said no leader would have made such remarks in Kerala, which is well known for its secularism and tolerance. “He spoke as an RSS Pracharak, not as the Prime Minister," he said.
“How can anyone drag the Congress president into the issue when she is not privy to any decisions concerning the defence procurement?"
He asked the Union government to book those who are responsible for the controversial deal by using the agencies at their behest. “We are urging the Centre to find and punish those behind the deal,” he said. Mr Antony said that it was the UPA government which initiated the procedures for blacklisting AgustaWestland.
“ Though we blacklisted them, we were not able to take legal action because the case was at its initial stage. Now with all that hindrances gone, instead of taking steps against the company, the Modi government has included it in the Make in India scheme," he added.
