Andrea Mantegna paintings

government to resign. Both houses of parliament were suspended on Wednesday amid riotous scenes. The development, which comes on the eve of the five state polls, has given the opposition much ammunition to challenge the BJP and to build a credible campaign against the ruling establishment. Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes's offer of resignation on Tuesday was not accepted. Among the allegations that emerged from the tapes is one that he accepted a bribe to ensure that the Israeli missile system, Barak, was bought for the Indian Navy. In 1987, Swedish radio reported that the Bofors firm had paid more than $50 million in bribes to secure a contract for a $1.4 billion sale of field guns to the Indian army, against stiff international competition. The bribes were paid into secret Swiss bank accounts. Indian authorities obtained documents relating to the accounts after a seven-year legal battle with Swiss authorities. The case is still continuing. The scandal created a political uproar in India, and Bofors became a symbol of political corruption. It tarnished the image of Rajiv Gandhi