Congress today dismissed as “totally baseless” and “mischievous”, reports that it had offered a deal to the government under which it was ready to support passage of GST bill in the Parliament if it axed External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in the wake of the Lalitgate controversy.
AICC Communication Department chief Randeep Surjewala said, “Sacking Swaraj and Raje are issues of righteousness, impropriety and holding the Modi government accountable to their promise of not shielding black money hoarders of the ilk of Lalit Modi. The question of quid pro quo on this all-pervading issue of morality and constitutional accountability does not arise,” he said.
Rejecting the reports, senior party leader Jairam Ramesh sadi they are “totally baseless and mischievous”.
According to reports in some sections of the media, Congress had come forward with a proposal for the government — axe Swaraj and Raje over Lalit Modi row in exchange for support for the Goods and Services Tax Bill in the Parliament.
The reports said the Modi government had outrightly rejected Congress’ offer, saying there was no question of any deal with the Congress in Parliament session, be it on GST or Land Acquisition Bill.
Instead, the BJP has agreed for a debate on any contentious issue.
The Monsoon session of Parliament, which is set to commence on July 21, is expected to be a stormy affair with Congress giving more than ample indications of disruptions if government fails to take action on the Lalitgate issue.
Congress has been demanding resignations of Swaraj and Raje over Lalit Modi controversy, of HRD Minister Smriti Irani for allegedly misrepresenting facts about her educational qualification in separate election affidavits, and of Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde for her clearing purchases worth Rs. 206 crore on a single day instead of inviting tenders in violation of norms.
Lalit Modi Row: The Cast
>Arun JaitleyUnion Finance Minister, BJP
"All allegations levelled are baseless."
>P. ChidambaramFormer Finance Minister, Congress
"Ensure Modi returns to India for ED probe."
>Sushma SwarajExternal Affairs Minister, BJP
Helped Lalit Modi after taking a humanitarian view.
>Sitaram Yechury General Secretary, CPI-M
Intervention of Sushma Swaraj is unacceptable
Sushma Swaraj and Keith Vaz are no longer the only ones in the line of fire:
- » Documents supplied by Lalit Modi's lawyer on Monday revealed that >Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had in August 2011 backed his immigration application on condition it would not be made known to Indian authorities.
- » On Wednesday Sushma Swaraj was tweeting in response to allegation that her daughter >Bansuri Swaraj got admission to medical school the northeast quota.
- »> Media baron Rupert Murdoch found his name figure in the controversy. In a TV interview, Mr. Modi said Mr. Murdoch was upset with him.
Hints at fissures in the BJP were made by party member Kirti Azad, who pointed to an in-house conspiracy targeting Sushma:
- » In his tweets, >Mr. Azad referred to a party insider having a role to play in leaking information about the Minister's recommendation and her family's association with Mr. Modi. Mr. Azad claimed that it was a 'snake in the grass' and a media personality who conspired against Ms. Swaraj.
Armed now with enough ammunition, the opposition trained its guns on the Centre :
- »>Former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said Lalit Modi must be brought back to India to face a probe by the enforcement directorate on the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violations.
- » Sushma should be sacked, said >Rahul Gandhi: "Lalit Modi is the symbol of black money stashed outside and Sushma Swaraj is protecting him"
- »>AAP leader Kumar Vishwas: alleged PMO's involvement in Swaraj row
Timeline
- - First exposé in the London-based on Lalit Modi controversy It alleged that senior Labour British parliamentarian of Indian origin Keith Vaz used his influential position as chair of the House of Commons home affairs select committee to help Mr. Modi get his papers to stay in the UK as a temporary resident, despite his position as a fugitive from the law in India.
- Mr. Vaz, who did not make any public or media statement, in a post on his website said his email was hacked and confidential information accessed. In another post he claims that when he took over there was a passport crisis with 500,000 pending cases in the Home department, which he was able to bring down considerably in five years.
- - In a follow up to the first story the next week the name of Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj comes in as yet another senior politician who is making a case for Lalit Modi. Leaked correspondence shows that Mr. Vaz invoked the names of both Ms. Swaraj and Sir James Bevan, British High Commissioner to India as Mr. Modi’s friends, in order to strengthen his case with the immigration authorities.
- - In a TV interview Mr. Modi alleges that media baron Rupert Murdoch, who owns the Times and Sunday Times has masterminded the Sunday Times story. He claims that Mr. Murdoch was miffed over a “no exit” clause in the Champions League, and is therefore getting his back.
