In response to the BJP’s defence of the corruption charges leveled by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress has asked why Modi is hesitant to come clean and issue a clarification. The TMC and left parties too demanded a thorough probe into Rahul Gandhi’s allegations that Narendra Modi as Gujarat Chief Minister had taken money from Sahara and Birla groups.
Congress chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala wondered why the BJP was rattled and hurling abuses at the Opposition when all that it had to do was to order an independent probe. He said that Rahul and the Congress party respect Modi and the office he holds, and they too want him to come out unscathed of these allegation. He added that the Prime Minister’s credibility and integrity are at stake.
Surjewala asked that why, between 2014 and 2016, has the CBI or I-T department not once summoned Modi and interrogated him. “If such allegations were leveled against ordinary citizens, wouldn’t the investigating agencies at least question them,” Surjewala asked.
He said that nine incriminating entries have been found in a computer in the Sahara raids, whether they are true or not is the only question that the Opposition asks.
Surjewala also invoked an incident pertaining to BJP veteran lK Advani in order to corner Modi. “Only on the basis of a dairy entry against his name Advani had at the time offered to leave politics and resign from the lok Sabha if the charges were proved. So what is Modi ji afraid ofIJ,” Surjewala asked.
Surjewala further added, “Vipaksh ka kaam hai rajneeti ki Ganga ki safai ka. and Vipaksh k taur pe hum sarthak sawaal puch rahe hain. isliye na khije na tilmilayein aur saaf saaf bataein (It is the responsibility of the Opposition to cleanse the Ganga of politics and that is what the Congress party was doing. We are asking pertinent questions. It is not something that should perturb them.)”
“We want an unbiased probe by an agency that the nation trusts. Credibility and honesty of the Prime Minister is at stake... Modi ji should come clean and not hide behind his cronies and clarify whether these proofs are true or not,” he said.
Invoking Modi’s popular election time slogan, which he also used to justify his demonetisation move, “Na Khaunga, Na Khane Dunga,” Surjewala said that it had become all the more important that the Prime Minister goes through this “test.”
Trinamool Congress demanded a CBI probe into Rahul Gandhi’s allegation with party chief national spokesperson Derek O’Brien saying, “The Congress vice-president raised the issue of corruption at a public meeting in Gujarat today. Trinamool Congress welcomes the move.”
Targeting Modi, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the “personal-political corruption” charges against the Prime Minister while he delivers “sermons” on combating black money and corruption is his “trademark hypocrisy”.
“Sahara Diaries and the allegations against Modi, when he was Gujarat CM, are very serious and must be investigated. Whether Vyapam, lalit Modi, GSPC or now Sahara Diaries, they reveal the sleazy, crony capitalism of BJP state govts. Thorough probe needed (sic),” Yechury tweeted.
CPI too demanded high-level probe into Gandhi's allegation. "It's a case which deserves high-level probe so that people get to know the truth," CPI national secretary D Raja said in Hyderabad where the party is at present holding its three-day national council meeting.