NEW DELHI, Jun 19:
The Congress today carried its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a new level saying whatever help was extended to tainted former IPL chief Lalit Modi to stay out of the country and avoid facing enforcement agencies was done with his “consent and knowledge”.
The party also warned that there will be no transaction of business during the forthcoming Monsoon session of Parliament if External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje are not made to quit.
“I think this (BJP defence of Raje and Swaraj) is a blunder the Prime Minister has done by extending support to these leaders. This cover up is now going to cost him heavily.
“The focus will now shift from Swaraj and Raje to the Prime Minister itself. This clearly indicates that whatever help was extended to Lalit Modi to stay out of the country and not face law enforcement agencies was with the consent and knowledge of the Prime Minister,” Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told PTI.
He was replying to a question on BJP defence today of Swaraj and Raje for their role in helping tainted former IPL chief Lalit Modi in staying in Britain after maintainiung two days of studied silence.
“Had it not been so, he would have and he should have taken the action by now,” the senior Congress leader said.
About the monsoon session of parliament and Congress’ strategy, Azad said if no action is taken till the session, it would be impossible for the session to transact any business.
“It is not only Congress but the entire country is eagerly waiting for the decision to be taken by the Prime Minister and the BJP leadership and should these two fail to take action, Congress shall have to continue its demand till the action is taken,” he said.
About silence of other regional parties on the issue and whether Congress will have a joint strategy with other parties, he said “let us wait. We are waiting and so would be these parties.”
Azad termed filing of CBI cases against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and and former Union Minister Shankersinh Vaghela as a “second blunder” by the Prime Minister.
“Let me tell you that even if he brings 1000 false cases against Congressmen, the Government will not be able to divert attention from the core issues where BJP is involved at present.
“It is in the interest of the Prime Minister and the leadership of BJP that the sooner they clear the air by taking strong action, the better it would be for them,” he said.
The senior Congressman remarked that the holy month of Ramzan has started for Muslims and not for the Prime Minister. “He should speak as he is not fasting.”
He said what face would the Prime Minister, who till other day would take on his political adversaries left and right across the globe, show when he visits foreign countries without taking any action against his colleagues back at home.
“After all, Mr Modi is famous for his speeches but for last one week he is silent. He has gone off air. People would like to know his whereabouts,” he said.
Azad also demanded that cases should be registered against the Rajasthan Chief Minister for allegedly aiding and abetting Lalit Modi who is being wanted by Enforcement Directorate.
“I think the more serious charges are against Vasundhara Raje. There are two serious charges against her and her son. Against the Chief Minister, the charge is that she has given letter to Lalit Modi for the British Government that he should be allowed to stay in the UK but this should not be known to Indian Government,” Azad claimed.
That means “a fugitive, an absconder who is involved in cheating, money laundering” and is being chased by Enforcement Directorate is being aided and abetted by Raje by providing this letter to remain absconding out of the country,” Azad said.
“Second, by mentioning that this should not be known to the Government of India clearly means that she knew that she is doing something unlawful….It clearly indicates that she knew the consequences. So, therefore, I demand that she should not only be removed but a case should be registered against her for aiding and abetting an offender and a fugitive,” the senior Congress leader said.
He said Raje’s son Dushyant also needed to be probed. “In which part of the world, a loss-making company is selling its Rs 10 share for Rs 90,000. This is unheard of and unseen.
“This is a clear-cut case of corruption. For this, he has to be tried. The action has to be taken against mother and son,” Azad said. (PTI)
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