Sushma hits back at Cong, targets Rajiv Gandhi

In a spirited fight back, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today tore into Congress, saying it had helped Bofors accused Ottavio Quattrocchi and Bhopal gas leak accused Warren Anderson flee from India and roped in Rajiv Gandhi in this regard.

Making a statement in lok Sabha, she specifically responded to Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's charge that she had got money to help lalit Modi by telling him to ask his "mamma" as to "how much money had been taken from Quattrocchi" and "why did 'daddy' (Rajiv Gandhi) get released the killer of 15,000 people (in Bhopal gas leak)," an apparent reference to Anderson.

Swaraj, who has been battling demands for her resignation over alleged 'quid pro quo' in relation to lalit Modi, said, "this is called quid pro quo... Rahul should ask (his mother), why they did the quid pro quo" with regard to Quattrocchi and Anderson.

While she spoke amid slogan-shouting by Congress members, Sonia Gandhi was seen listening to the speech in rapt attention using headphone.

Swaraj also targeted former Union Minister P Chidambaram, saying he had failed to bring back lalit Modi from United Kingdom as he did not try for his extradition as suggested by the host government and confined his requests to deportation.

"For four years, you (Congress government) did nothing. You remained inactive. There was no effort for extradition. You are asking me how he (lalit Modi) got right of residency (in UK). He got it during your time. Whatever happened, it was during your tenure," she told the Congress.