Government, BJP defend Sushma
AMN —
Several political parties have demanded resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj over issuing travel documents to Lalit Modi. Congress asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give a statement in this regard clarifying whether it was done with his approval. Briefing media in New Delhi, party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said highest offices of the government and Ministry of External Affairs have been found to be involved in the matter with the needle of suspicion resting at the door of the Prime Minister.
Sushma Swaraj admits helping Lalit Modi on humanitarian grounds
He said it is a clear cut case of quid pro quo between a fugitive of law and the External Affairs Minister. Mr Surjewala asked if it is the new policy of NDA government to help fugitives on humanitarian grounds. He asked whether the Prime Minister is willing to help underworld don Dawood Ibrahim as well on humanitarian grounds.
CPI leader D Raja has said, that Prime Minister owes explanation to the country on the alleged impropriety committed by Mrs Swaraj. Brinda Karat of CPI(M) termed the matter as a case of grave impropriety and said it is the duty of the Prime Minister to answer.
JD(U) spokesperson K C Tyagi condemned Mrs Swaraj’s action. Aam Aadmi Party spokesman Ashutosh said Mrs Swaraj has no option but to resign and if she does not step down Prime Minister should sack her.
Government and the BJP have Sushma Swaraj justified that she had acted on humanitarian grounds. After a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, whatever Mrs Swaraj has done is right and government completely stands by her. He said, the external affairs Minister told British lawmaker Keith Vaz to do only what was allowed as per the rules and regulations of the UK.
Home Minister’s comment came after reports that Mrs Swaraj had written to Keith Vaz to recommend travel documents for Lalit Modi, for visiting Portugal. Mr Singh also rejected opposition demands for her resignation. BJP chief Amit Shah also strongly defended Mrs Swaraj, saying she had acted in a humanitarian manner and no big moral issue was involved.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj admitted that she had written to Keith Vaz to expedite the travel documents of former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi. Responding to the report, the external affairs Minister said that sometime in July 2014 she took a humanitarian view of Lalit Modi’s request that his wife was suffering from cancer and her surgery was fixed for 4th August in Portugal.
In a series of tweets, Mrs Swaraj said Lalit Modi informed her that he had to be present in the hospital to sign the consent papers. Mr Lalit also informed her that he had applied for travel documents in London and UK Government was prepared to give him the travel documents but they were restrained by a UPA Government communication that this will spoil Indo-UK relations.
In the interest of transparency, Government of India should release the letters written to the UK Chancellor on the Lalit Modi case: P. Chidambaram @PChidambaram_IN