New Delhi: The Congress on Monday upped the ante against the Narendra Modi government after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj admitted to helping former Indian Premier League chief Lalit Modi in procuring visa and is now out on streets demanding her resignation. Not missing any opportunity to hit out at the Centre, the opposition parties are questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the issue.
Justifying party's demand for Sushma's resignation, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said, "I am surprised that such a good minister had to resort to this. Sushma Swaraj needs to give answers. By now, the Prime Minister should have asked Sushma to resign. Lalit Modi wanted to go to Portugal, but he's in havana."
Backing his colleague, former union minister Salman Khurshid said, "Sushma can't escape the label of breach of propriety. There must be many people who tried to resolve issue for Modi. If Sushma took such a step, there should've been transparency. Sushma took a personal call, prima facie it is not justified. There is an explanation due from Sushma. Whole truth must come out before passing judgements. Questions will be asked from the Prime Minister too."
Another Congress leader PL Punia said Sushma helped Modi because of her family ties. "As per Portugal laws, husband's signature are not required before surgery. Sushma Swaraj helped Lalit Modi only because of her family's ties with him," Punia said.
Sushma had admitted that she had no objection to Modi's request to be allowed to travel out of UK and spoke to this effect with British MP Keith Vaz and the British High Commissioner. Sushma even clarified that she had intervened on humanitarian grounds as Modi's wife needed treatment in Portugal.
Sushma tweeted, "Sometime in July 2014 Lalit Modi spoke to me that his wife was suffering from cancer and her surgery was fixed for August 4 in Portugal. He told me that he had to be present in the hospital to sign the consent papers. He informed me that he had applied for travel documents in London and UK government was prepared to give him the travel documents."
With both the Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Snagh rallying behind Sushma, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, "It is clear that this is BJP's philosophy to save their own."
Even the Aam Aadmi Party has trained its guns towards Sushma demanding an explanation from her. AAP leader Kumar Vishwas said, "We are not demanding Sushma's resignation but want her to clarify. BJP must tell us what humanitarian action has been taken by them."
But the Modi government, RSS and the BJP are strongly backing Sushma and defending her action.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "Sushma acted on humanitarian grounds and has done nothing wrong. The opposition has the habit to ask for resignation on daily basis."
Even RSS leader MG Vaidya said, "Sushma has not done anything wrong. She broke no laws."
Modi had earlier been restricted from travelling out of UK. His Indian passport was revoked amidst allegations of match fixing.
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