Taking advantage of BJP veteran lK Advani’s remark on need for probity in public life, Opposition parties have intensified their demand for sacking of Vasundhara Raje, Sushma Swaraj, Smriti Irani and Pankaja Munde arguing the BJP leaders must quit posts to allow fair probe. While demanding an enquiry by SIT in lalit Modi controversy, the Congress, Janata Dal (U), the Aam Aadmi Party and the left parties also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for maintaining stoic silence over the allegations of corruption by its party leaders.
“It is a very clear indication from the senior-most leader of BJP that its Ministers, when they are implicated, when there are allegations against them, should own up responsibility. The PM should come out with a clear explanation. Nothing is happening. It is in this context that he (Advani) has given this opinion. So, I think that Advaniji’s opinion is the reflection of thinking in general of the people,” said senior Congress leader PC Chacko.
Advani on Saturday while recalling how he had resigned as an MP in 1996 soon after his name cropped up in the Hawala scam, said there was a need to maintain probity in public life. He was consequently re-elected in 1998 after his name was cleared.
“The very mention of Advaniji’s resignation now means whatIJ It is a hint that he wants that these two people should own moral responsibility,” Chacko said while seeking Vasundhara and Sushma’s resignation.
“They had claimed to be a party with a difference. What difference is thatIJ They want to protect their own people... They might be feeling that if they take action against one it may trigger a process. By now, it is clear that they don’t intend to walk on the path of political morality. This is what Advaniji has also cautioned about,” said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Attacking the PM over the lalit Modi controversy, Congress said there will be demand for his resignation as well if he continues to be silent on the issue and not take immediate action against those involved in corruption.
“It is in the interest of the Prime Minister to take immediate action against those involved in corruption. Otherwise nationally and internationally, it is going to haunt him wherever he goes,” leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said.
Azad also expressed disappointment over the Modi’s “failure” to speak on the controversy. “All over India, no one is ready to listen to Mann ki Baat... Everyone wants to listen to voice of people,” Azad said, adding Modi is a “dream merchant” who is merely selling dreams in India and abroad.
“The Prime Minister considers himself a superman who can order around even heads of Government... Has he written to the Prime Minister or the Finance Minister of the UK in the last one year on the issue of bringing back lalit Modi,” Azad questioned.
Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh alleged that the PM was helping lalit Modi in ED cases against him. CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury demanded a through enquiry into the lalit Modi controversy. “We have demanded a thorough inquiry into the whole set of allegations. There could be a SIT under the direct supervision of judiciary and I think that should be done to identify and punish the guilty,” he said in Kolkatta.