In the midst of raging controversy over External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj helping former IPl chief lalit Modi obtain travel documents from UK authorities last year in July, lalit Modi’s lawyer and the BJP strongly defended the Minister against all charges of impropriety and alleged it was a conspiracy to unsettle the Narendra Modi Government. On the other hand, the Congress persisted with the demand for Sushma’s resignation.
lalit Modi himself broke his silence on the issue and said, “The battle has just begun watch the fun now.” In another cryptic tweet, he said, “My guess is the wrong people’s resignations are being asked. I can assure u now the storm is about to hit. lots more resignations will be…”
Trying to clear the air on how it was case of humanitarian consideration, lalit Modi’s lawyer Mehmood Abdi read out a letter from doctors treating lalit Modi’s wife in Portugal that she needed emotional support and family members close by her during a procedure to treat cancer.
Abdi said that though lalit Modi was not required to give consent for his wife’s operation under the Portuguese rule, he needed to be with her. “Will not anyone else in his position do the same,” he shot back.
Abdi attacked the previous UPA Government for hatching political conspiracy against lalit Modi after he exposed Sunanda Tharoor’s sweat equity involvement in the IPl Kochi franchise and said his client was not a fugitive or offender. He read out a letter received by lalit Modi from the Interpol Secretariat saying there was no “Blue Corner” notice against the former IPl boss.
“It has to be decided by law. Which court has decided that lalit Modi is offender and fugitiveIJ He stays within knowledge of everyone in the United Kingdom,” he said.
Abdi made a sensation claim that the “Blue Corner” notice reported by some media was based on a fabricated document. “Political vagabonds are trying to target popular Government,” he claimed.
The lawyer said UK immigration has allowed lalit to stay in london after a through hearing of his aces. He also alleged that lalit Modi’s security was withdrawn in India despite Intelligence inputs about specific threat to his life from underworld.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday hit out at the Congress for making “baseless” allegations against Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj saying it was the UPA Government, which allowed former IPl chief lalit Modi to “escape” from the country.
Javadekar accused the Congress party of “bankruptcy” of ideas for charging BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the basis of photographs of lalit Modi with them. He said by that logic several senior Congress leaders including Rajiv Shukla and Jyotiraditya Scindia had umpteenth of photographs with lalit Modi.
He further pointed out that Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul have also been clicked with those accused of 2-G scam, Aircell Max scandal, CWG scam and other scams. “Have they (congress leaders) gone bankruptIJ” he asked.
He said lalit Modi’s photo at Ahmedabad with the Prime Minister dates back to 2010 when the latter was president of Gujarat Cricket Board. It is a bankruptcy to show 2010 photo in 2015, he said.
The BJP Minister said while Congress was accusing Swaraj of helping “a fugitive” it conveniently forgets that it was the Congress-led Government responsible for making former IPl chief “a fugitive”. He said Bhopal gas accused Anderson was also allowed to flee the country by the Congress Government.
Responding to Rahul’s demand for sacking Swaraj, Javadekar said there was no issue after the Foreign Minister has given “a categorical statement” which has been endorsed by BJP president Amit Shah. The Congress still wants “to boil the issue”, he said.
Snowballed into a major controversy in the country with the Opposition seeking explanation from the Prime Minister Modi and resignation of Swaraj, lalit Modi defended Sushma decision through his lawyer and said he was a victim of political conspiracy hatched during the previous UPA regime.
Sensing an opportunity in the scandal to embarrass the Modi Government, the entire Opposition has targeted the Prime Minister accusing him favouring another Modi, who is facing charges of economic offices back home.
Calling it “ModiGate”, Rahul Gandhi accused Narendra Modi of “protecting” lalit Modi and asked the Prime Minister to sack External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for her help to the former IPl chairman in obtaining British travel documents.
“It is not a question of Sushma ji resigning, PM Modi ji should sack Sushma Swaraj ji from the Govt,” Gandhi said on the hashtag #ModiGate on Twitter.
Addressing media in Chhattisgarh, the Congress vice president recalled Modi as saying that he was a protector and he was the person who will get back black money from outside.