"If helping a woman like Modi's wife was a crime, then I admit in this House that I have committed this crime. let Parliament give any punishment it deems fit," the External Affairs Minister.
With regard to the opposition not allowing a discussion on the issue, Swaraj said that not giving her an opportunity to respond to the charges was "injustice" to her.
"People are asking how I did it, why I did it but first tell me what did I doIJ Did I offer him (lalit Modi) any pecuniary benefitsIJ Did I help him escape from IndiaIJ Did I help him get travel documentsIJ I left it to the UK government... The message I gave to them was purely on humanitarian ground," she said.
To justify her point, Swaraj refered to a media report which had quoted the British Home Department's statement saying the decision to give travel documents to lalit Modi was "determined in accordance with appropriate rules".
She underlined that the British Home Department had not said that the travel documents to lalit Modi were given at the behest of Indian Foreign Minister or Indian government.
"After this, the matter should have become a non-issue but the controversy raged on," she said.
Referring to empty opposition benches, she said she was not making the statement by trying to make use of their absence but was only requesting for a debate on the issue as she had been waiting for it for so long and the Monsoon session was about to come to an end.
She hoped that a debate would begin next week when the suspension of the Congress ends.
Turning philosphical, she quoted scriptures to say that her stars may be crossed as opposition members who used to shower affection on her had been criticising her bitterly and even demanding her resignation.
"life and death, fame and dishonour are in the hands of divnity," she said quoting a holy book and hoped that the faith of opposition members in her and their affection will return.
