Congress demands Sushma Swaraj's resignation, also drags in PM

Updated

New Delhi, Jun 14 (PTI): Congress today demanded resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for her help to Indian fugitive Lalit Modi in getting British travel documents and dragged Prime Minister Narendra Modi into the raging row, saying "needle of suspicion rests" at his door.

The main opposition party also posed 11 questions to the Prime Minister, including "what happens to transparency and non-corruption promise" made by him and how the government would bring back black money if it "supports" such people who are accused of money laundering to the tune of Rs 700 crore.

"People are asking 'is (PM Narendra) Modi helping (Lalit) Modi," Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala told a press conference.

Rejecting Swaraj's defence that she helped Lalit Modi on "humanitarian grounds", Surjewala alleged quid-pro-quo, saying the former IPL Commissioner had helped her husband Swaraj Kaushal in securing admission for his nephew in a UK university in 2013 and he enjoyed proximity to BJP leaders, including its president Amit Shah.

The AICC Incharge of Communications Department also wondered if the government had come out with a policy to help criminals on humanitarian ground and if it would be extended to wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim too if he sought such a help.

"What we have witnessed today involves blatant quid pro quo, direct help to a fugitive from law, internecine warfare between the top echelons of government and unraveling of the nexus between BJP leadership and its crony criminal friends... Swaraj should immediately step down," he said.

He sought to know if the Prime Minister was aware of Swaraj's help to the former IPL chief and said he must come out with a statement to make facts clear.

"The role of the Prime Minister is under a cloud of suspicion as to whether there was a tacit endorsement of the action... The needle of suspicion rests at the door of the office of the Prime Minister," he said.

Noting that Lalit Modi was wanted in cases involving money laundering of Rs 700 crore, he took a dig at the Prime Minister over his promise of bringing back black money.

"What happens to the transparency' and no-corruption claims of the Prime Minister when it is apparent that his own government is actively helping a fugitive from Indian law accused of financial bungling and money laundering?," he said.

The party also released several e-mails purportedly exchanged between Lalit Modi and British MP Keith Vaz over the issue.

In one mail, Vaz writes, "From the horses mouth! I will do a thank you we will need her again.

Earlier Update

Oppn slams Swaraj over Lalit Modi issue

Updated

New Delhi, Jun 14 (PTI): Opposition parties today slammed External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and demanded her resignation for "helping" scam-tainted former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi in procuring travel documents in the UK, a country which he has made his home to avoid legal processes in India.

RSS, however, defended Swaraj, saying whatever she might have done would have been guided by her "humane" nature and "nationalistic" spirit.

"I did not expect that Foreign Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj ji would help Lalit Modi, against whom government has issued a look-out notice, procure travel documents...I appeal to Sushma Swaraj ji to immediately resign on moral ground," senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh said today.

His comment came after reports surfaced that Sushma had written to British lawmaker Keith Vaz to allegedly recommend travel documents for Lalit Modi for visiting Portugal. Swaraj said she had written to Vaz on "humanitarian grounds" after Lalit Modi said his wife was ill.

Digvijay Singh noted that Lalit Modi is facing probe by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and has been served a notice by it, asking him to appear before it. "If such a person is recommended by the Foreign Minister to Indian-origin British lawmaker Keith Vaz for help in getting the travel documents in the UK which he gets within 24-hours, then it is a serious issue," the Congress leader said.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should clarify whether or not this was done with his "consent".

Singh's party colleague Sachin Pilot said the Prime Minister "must himself answer as to why they (government) have been helping, supporting people who have been associated with all sorts of illegal transactions, who have run away from the country and are living overseas trying to avoid Indian law."

JD(U) spokesman K C Tyagi also said, "I condemn the help given to him (Lalit Modi) by Swaraj."

CPI leader D raja said the matter was serious because Swaraj has admitted to "helping" Lalit Modi who is wanted in the country for economic offences and has been avoiding coming to the country.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi owes an explanation to the country on impropriety committed by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj," he said. Raja said the Prime Minister should say whether "this is also a part of good governance promised by him."

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat termed the matter as a "case of grave impropriety" and said "it is the duty of the Prime Minister to answer". AAP spokesman Ashutosh said, "it amounts to admission of a fact that she has helped Lalit Modi who is a legal offender. There is a lookout notice for him, a red corner notice and he is being probed by Enforcement Directorate."

He said Swaraj has "no option but to resign" and if she does not, then the Prime Minister should sack her. On the other hand, RSS leader Indresh Kumar said, "Sushma is full of nationalism and humane nature" and "whatever she might have done, would be guided by nationalism and humane nature." BSP chief Mayawati, when asked about it at a press conference in Lucknow, said, "I do not have much knowledge of the matter. When inquiry report comes and Parliament meets, this issue will heat up. We want the facts of the matter. It will be better to react only after the inquiry report comes."

Earlier Report

Sushma Swaraj helped Lalit Modi procure travel documents : TV Channels

New Delhi, Jun 14 (TOI) : In a startling expose by Times Now on the Lalit Modi's travel documents issue, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj accepted that she was indeed in touch with Lalit Modi in the month of July, 2014. It has been alleged that Swaraj helped Lalit Modi procure travel documents to return to India.

On Sunday morning, Swaraj tweeted saying that Modi had informed her that he had applied for travel documents in London and that the UK government was prepared to give him the travel documents. But, the UK government was restrained by a UPA government communication that the move will spoil India-UK relations.

Swaraj explained her actions saying she took a "humanitarian view" and conveyed to the British High Commissioner that they should examine Modi's request as per their rules and "if the British Government chooses to give travel documents to Lalit Modi – that will not spoil our bilateral relations".

Giving the chronology of events, she said on Twitter, "Sometime in July 2014, Lalit Modi spoke to me that his wife was suffering from Cancer and her surgery was fixed for 4th August in Portugal. He told me that he had to be present in the hospital to sign the consent papers.

"He informed me that he had applied for travel documents in London and the UK Government was prepared to give him the travel documents. However, they were restrained by a UPA Government communication that this will spoil Indo-UK relations.

"Taking a humanitarian view, I conveyed to the British High Commissioner that: "British Government should examine the request of Lalit Modi as per British rules and regulations. If the British Government chooses to give travel documents to Lalit Modi – that will not spoil our bilateral relations."

"Keith Vaz also spoke to me and I told him precisely what I told the British High Commissioner.

"I genuinely believe that in a situation such as this, giving emergency travel documents to an Indian citizen cannot and should not spoil relations between the two countries," she said.

"I may also state that only few days later, Delhi High Court quashed the UPA Government's order impounding Lalit Modi's passport on the ground that the said order was unconstitutional being violative of fundamental rights and he got his passport back," Swaraj said.

The expose also revealed that Swaraj's husband was seeking favor at different levels from Lalit Modi.

Previously, Keith Vaz, one of Britain's longest-serving Indian-origin MPs, is facing an inquiry by the UK's parliamentary watchdog over allegations of a conflict of interest by intervening in the immigration application of controversial IPL founder Lalit Modi.

According to a 'Sunday Times' probe, Vaz personally wrote to Sarah Rapson, the director-general of UK visas and immigration, in an effort to expedite the case of London-based Modi, former commissioner of Indian Premier League cricket tournament.

Vaz was then chairman of the influential House of Commons home affairs select committee in which role he was required to scrutinise and hold to account the work of Rapson and her department, the newspaper points out.

However, Vaz has denied any wrongdoing or conflict of interest and said he had treated Modi's case the same as others who sought his help.

Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen has now written to Kathryn Hudson, the UK parliamentary standards commissioner, urging her to investigate whether Vaz had breached the MPs' code of conduct.

In a leaked correspondence seen by 'The Sunday Times', Vaz offered to help with the immigration case of Modi, a controversial multimillionaire who has been investigated by Indian tax authorities in the past.

Modi came to London in 2010 amid claims that the IPL cricket tournament was embroiled in alleged match-fixing and illegal betting.

His Indian passport was later revoked, leaving him grounded in the UK.

Modi has always denied any wrongdoing and says he left India for Britain because of death threats.

Shortly, after he received his UK travel documents last summer after a lengthy legal battle with the UK home office, Modi described Vaz as a "superstar".

Vaz has said Modi's case was one of "hundreds" he had raised with the home office on behalf of individuals where he felt there was a wider problem with the immigration system — in this case a delay in the issuing of travel papers.

He said: "There is no conflict of interest as I have no personal interest in this case and received no benefit from it. I actively encouraged people to bring to my and the committee's attention examples of delays, inefficiencies and problems with the immigration system."

With PTI Inputs