Vijay Mallya had 'special privileges' during UPA rule, given loans by violating norms: BJP

Vijay Mallya was given loans by violating the norms during the UPA rule, Congress President Rahul Gandhi must explain this 'jugalbandi' between his party and the fugitive liquor baron, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said.

Addressing the media here, Union Minister Piyush Goyal alleged the Congress-led UPA government had given loans to Mallya by violating the norms. Photo: Twitter

NEW DELHI: After Rahul Gandhi addressed a hard-hitting press conference on Thursday accusing Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of colliding with Vijay Mallya, the BJP countered Congress President's claims and alleged there was a "jugalbandi" (bonding) between the UPA regime and the fugitive liquor baron. Addressing the media here, Union Minister Piyush Goyal alleged the Congress-led UPA government had given loans to Mallya by violating the norms. "Rahul Gandhi should explain that what links his family and party had with Vijay Mallya that he was given loans by violating the norms during the UPA rule," Goyal said and asked the Congress party why did the RBI "relax" all the norms for Mallya? "Every help was extended to Mallya's Kingfisher Airlines by the UPA government to overcome debt. Kingfisher was given loans many times during UPA. Gandhi family gave special privileges to Mallya," he claimed. Earlier in the day, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged the UPA government had given a "sweet deal" to the beleaguered Kingfisher Airlines to keep it afloat and suggested that the airline was perhaps owned by the Gandhi family. "The entire Gandhi family was in fact helping Mallya and Kingfisher Airlines with the sweet deal," Patra said, while showing a bunch of documents related to the loans given by banks to the airline. "There is a series of letters between the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) and the SBI (State Bank of India). These letters show us how the previous dispensation under Sonia Gandhi was biased, partial and kept all norms and regulations at bay to give a sweet deal to Kingfisher Airlines," he alleged. The BJP leader was responding to Rahul Gandhi's demand for a probe into Mallya's claim that he had met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley before leaving India.