New Delhi: Under attack for his name being dragged in the AgustaWestland controversy, Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Wednesday pressed for a thorough probe into the deal, declaring that he will quit Rajya Sabha as well as public life if any allegation against him is proved.
Patel, the political secretary to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, said the "propaganda" against him was due to baseless allegations to defame his party and its leaders.
"If anyone proves any wrongdoing by me, I will quit public life and Rajya Sabha. There should be a thorough investigation carried out into this deal and guilty should be punished.
Bring the truth out... I repeat again, if you can find an iota of truth against me, I will quit public life and resign from this House," he said in Rajya Sabha while participating in debate on the chopper controversy.
At the same time, he questioned, "what about people who are tarnishing the reputation of people by presenting wrong facts and baseless allegations? This is an attempt to defame Congress and its leaders."
Patel's name has been dragged into the controversy because of an initial 'AP' reportedly found in the documents recovered in connection with probe by the Italian authorities. He said things are being created and "false propaganda" is being carried out to tarnish the reputation of people on the basis of wrong and baseless charges.
"My name has appeared four times in Italian court judgement. But has any leader been indicted or anyone painted as accused?" he asked.
He said he has been in public life for so many years but has never crossed its limits and that the CAG report should not be used as a tool for political mudslinging.
Patel said he had left his old mother behind in the village not to do anything wrong. "I have not crossed any limits of public life. This is not my first 'agni-pareeksha' (trial by fire)," he said. He quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who as Chief Minister had said, that 'CAG report should not be used as a tool for political bickerings'.
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