Opposition intensifies attack on govt
Jul 2, 2:22AM //
The Congress has reiterated its demand for Prime Minister’s statement on the Lalit Modi travel document issue. Briefing media in New Delhi, party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi owes to the nation to end his silence. Mr Singhvi said there is now clear evidence to show that Lalit Modi offered a job to Swaraj Kaushal, husband of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, which is proof of the close ties between Mrs Swaraj and Mr Modi. Saying that the highest echelons of the government are giving clean chits to External Affairs Minister and Rajasthan Chief Minister, Mr Singhvi said the clean chits are being given for the BJP, by the BJP, from the BJP.
The Aam Aadmi Party today reiterated its demanded for sacking of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in the wake of fresh allegations that former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi offered directorship in a company to her husband Swaraj Kaushal. The party said it is a clear case of conflict of interest.
Party spokesperson Raghav Chadha said that there should be an independent probe into the allegations against the Minister. He demanded that Ministers in the Union government and their immediate family members should also declare their financial interests.
Communist Party of India (CPI) also sought removal of Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for their alleged links with tainted former IPL chief Lalit Modi. The party also hit out at the Modi government for “failing” to provide a corruption and scam free regime. The CPI also demanded action against Union Human Resources Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani for her alleged contradictory claims about her educational qualifications.
The National Council of CPI, which is holding its three-day meeting in Chandigarh, today adopted four resolutions including demand of resignation of “tainted” ministers in BJP government and setting up of an SIT under the supervision of a Supreme Court Judge to probe killings in Vyapam case in Madhya Pradesh.
The top brass of CPI is holding brain storming sessions on various issues including party’s electoral tactical line for upcoming Bihar polls, review of campaign against Land Acquisition Bill, political and economic developments in the country among others.
Addressing the media on the second day of party’s National Council meeting, party spokesman Shamim Faizi accused Swaraj of misusing her office to help Lalit Modi. CPI also sought action against two ministers in Maharashtra, Vinod Tawde and Pankaja Munde, saying serious corruption charges have been levelled against them.
On the other hand, BJP today rejected opposition’s claim that relationship between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s husband, Swaraj Kaushal and former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi is a case of conflict of interest. The party said Mr. Kaushal has been the lawyer of Modi since long and he also did not accept Modi’s offer of directorship in a company. Talking to AIR BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said even if Mr. Kaushal would have accepted the proposal, he was free to do so as an individual. He said if a person becomes Minister, it does not mean his or her relatives should quit their profession.
Mr. Kohli charged the Congress-led UPA government of invoking weak legal provisions against Lalit Modi so that he could not be easily brought back home. The spokesperson alleged that Congress is afraid of positive initiatives of the NDA government and is raising irrelevant issues to divert the attention.