New Delhi: The Government is ready for a debate on Ottavio Quattrocchi, whom the Government wants to extradite from Argentina in the Bofors case, and will not shy away, said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Lok Sabha on Thursday.
"We do not shy away from any discussion. We are ready for any discussion," he said in his statement on the Government’s efforts to extradite Quattrocchi. Singh was responding to Leader of Opposition L K Advani, who wanted the Government to explain what is being done to bring Quattrocchi to India.
BJP members objected to Singh speaking on the outside Parliament first. "It is not my intention to hurt sentiments of any member," the Prime Minister said, adding his remarks were in response to a question from media.
"It was not a press conference. I was asked to comment on election results (in three states)," he said.
The Prime Minister said the Government’s "consistent stand" has been that it will not shy away from any discussion. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has sent a team to Argentina to extradite Quattorocchi, has complete freedom to pursue the case.
Parliament was adjourned twice on Thursday over Quattrocchi, who is accused of receiving kickbacks in the Bofors gun deal. The Opposition alleges the CBI’s delay resulted in Quattorocchi getting bail but the Government claims this will have not affect its plan to extradite him.
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