Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday stated that the Swedish Bofors guns are of good quality, but he doesn't want to say a word on President Pranab Mukherjee's remarks. So much of controversy surrounded his comments that Bofors acquisition was a "media trial".
"I can only certify that Bofors guns are good. I do not make any statement on President's statement. If you ask me about quality of Bofors guns, then they are good," Parrikar told reporters here.
Earlier, President Mukherjee while giving an interview to a Swedish daily, says, "First of all - it is yet to be to be established that there was a scandal. No Indian court has established it. I was the defence minister of the country long after Bofors, and all my generals certified that this is one of the best guns we are having. Till today, Indian army is using it”.
"The so-called scandal which you talk of, yes, in the media, it was there. There was a media trial. But I'm afraid, let us not be too much carried (away) by publicity."
However, the video of the interview shows no such comments being made by the President, who is scheduled to visit Sweden next month.
The scam of procurement of 155mm howitzer field Bofors guns shook the then Rajiv Gandhi government and cause the defeat in the 1989 elections for Congress Government.
- Manohar
