AMN /
Former Finance Minister and Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has demanded that the letters written to British authorities on Lalit Modi case during UPA rule should be released. In a tweet, Mr Chidambaram said, the letters will help answer the accusations leveled by former IPL chief against the Congress.
He said, the complete answer to Lalit Modi’s accusations against UPA can be found in the letters to the British Chancellor of Exchequer. Chidambaram’s reaction came a day after Lalit Modi accused the Congress and Mr. Chidambaram of making him a target of political vendetta in the aftermath of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor losing his ministerial berth following the IPL scam.
Later addressing a press conference in Chennai, he posed the question if Mrs Swaraj wanted to help Lalit Modi on humanitarian grounds, why did she not write to the Indian High commissioner on the subject, he asked.
Mr Chidambaram demanded that the Government should ensure the return of former IPL Commissioner to India, to face the probe by ED on various charges against him. He demanded that the government release the letters exchanged between him as a Finance Minister and the chancellor of Exchequer George Osborne, in which he had urged for sending Lalit Modi back to India as he was facing criminal charges.
The Congress today said Lalit Modi episode has exposed what it called murky dealings, wilful lies, unearthing of secrets documents, non-disclosure of business dealings and conflict of interest by senior BJP leadership. Briefing media in New Delhi, party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, double speak of BJP in defending Lalit Modi, a fugitive of law, stands exposed now.
Sharpening party’s attack on External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Mr Surjewala said, both the BJP leaders have violated various penal laws and they must tender their resignations. He said, the party will follow all the options before it. He also hit out at Mrs Swaraj for not disclosing her relations with Lalit Modi to Ethics Committee of Parliament or to the government, which is compulsory under Code of Conduct for Ministers.
The axed IPL chief had attacked the Congress after it demanded resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for helping him get travel documents from the UK. Meanwhile, reacting to the revelations made by Lalit Modi, Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza demanded resignation of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje along with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Congress party yesterday demanded for Supreme Court monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the whole episode.