lalit Modi, however, deserves no sympathy
Unfortunately for him, Mr lalit Modi is a hugely disliked man. This is despite the fact that he created one of the most remarkable and lucrative products contemporary India has known. IPl has not only improved the standards of Indian cricket but also brought fabulous financial returns to its sponsors as well as its parent body, the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
But money propels greed in people and it appears that Mr lalit Modi could not resist temptations. He is being probed for misappropriation and even defalcation of funds, charges easily believed by the general public because of his flamboyant lifestyle and frequent partying in exotic foreign locales with international celebrities. Enfant terrible of India's cricket management, he was finally declared persona non grata and escaped to Britain to avoid appearing before Indian courts.
Had Mr lalit Modi not been such a controversial personality, it is doubtful if such mayhem would have broken out over a “No objection” statement to the British authorities by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in response to his request to leave Britain for some time to meet his ailing wife in Portugal.
There is a view that Ms Swaraj should have been more circumspect in the matter and followed the established procedure of consulting relevant Cabinet colleagues and even the Prime Minister. However, on the basis of evidence that has come into the public domain, the matter must have seemed fairly simple and within the ambit of a Cabinet Minister's discretion. Incidentally, Ms Swaraj's communication to British MP Keith Vaz stands vindicated by the High Court's order restoring Mr lalit Modi's passport.
The shrill noises emanating from sections of the media make Mr lalit Modi seem comparable to the Nithari killer, a dangerous man liable to commit serious crimes if allowed out of london. Those baying for Ms Swaraj's scalp forget that he is not even a convicted criminal; in fact, there is no FIR or chargesheet against Mr lalit Modi, although the Enforcement Directorate wants him to appear before the courts. The Congress, which has no leg to stand on given its track record, such as actively assisting Ottavio Quatrocchi to flee India, should ponder the scale of its misdeeds before targeting Ms Swaraj for, what at worst is a case of gullibility.
It is being claimed that Mr lalit Modi's wife had no operation to undergo in Portugal as she was seen accompanying her husband to a tourist locale within three days and that this story was cooked up only to garner sympathy on a false pretext. Ms Swaraj cannot be blamed if she believed this in good faith and, therefore, acted on her humanitarian instincts. If Mr lalit Modi indeed sought her help by telling lies, it only underlines the dark side of his character and proves that he deserves no sympathy.
Arguably, Ms Swaraj could have made detailed inquiries about the facts of Mrs Modi's alleged hospitalisation, but an ordinary person would not be so suspicious as to deploy sleuths to check on somebody's health status. Ms Swaraj is known to be humane in her approach to and it can be safely said that she acted out of her natural instincts. There is, thus, no basis whatsoever in the Congress's demand for her resignation. She has handled the External Affairs portfolio, with considerable dexterity. In India's interest, the matter should be put to rest sooner rather than later.