BJP seeks explanation from PM over Tatra deal

Targeting Defence Minister A K Antony for "inaction" in the Tatra truck deal even after he was alerted about it through a letter in May 2008, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday wondered if the minister was "under pressure" at that time and sought an explanation from the prime minister.

"What prompted Antony to become inactive on this issue? Whose pressure was it? At whose behest were these sudden changes in procurement criteria made? The government owes an explanation. The prime minister owes an explanation," BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar told reporters on Monday.

Bringing out a communication of May 12, 2008 seeking a probe into the purchase of Tatra trucks by party Member of Parliament from Jabalpur Rakesh Singh, the BJP said Antony was "misleading" the nation by stating that he acted promptly when the matter was brought to his notice.

BJP MP from Jabalpur Rakesh Singh claimed that he had written to the defence minister on May 12, 2008 with a request to investigate alleged favouritism in the procurement of high-mobility vehicles and Antony had replied to him on May 30, 2008, saying, "I am having the matter looked into".

Singh pointed out that even though indigenous 6X6 vehicles were manufactured and tested in the Vehicle Factory in Jabalpur, the same were not bought by the defence ministry and Tatra-BEML vehicles were purchased instead.

The BJP MP also said that even after Antony's promise of looking into the matter, when nothing happened on the issue, he raised the matter in the Lok Sabha.