New Delhi : Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje may relax as there were no new disclosures embarrassing her on Wednesday.
Instead, the Congress turned its blazing guns at foreign minister Sushma Swaraj, in view of the latest revelation that her husband was offered the post of an alternate director on the board of Indofil, of which Lalit Modi’s father K. K. Modi is the chairman.
Sushma’s husband, Swaraj Kaushal, was to serve as Lalit Modi’s back-up on the board during the latter’s prolonged absence from the country.
Incidentally, this job job offer came months after Sushma Swaraj helped Modi procure travel documents in the UK, which the Congress said further reinforces the charge of quid-pro-quo and conflict of interest on the part of the External Affairs Minister.
It will be recalled that Sushma’s ministry had also not challenged the release of Lalit Modi’s impounded passport and her own lawyer daughter had fought his case in Delhi High Court.
Lest the Congress be seen as relenting on Vasundhra Raje, party chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala clubbed her with Sushma, reminding Prime Minister Narendra Modi that “moral and constitutional propriety” demands that he ask both to resign.
He cited how the Congress had adhered to the “highest standards of propriety” to make its two foreign ministers — Madhav Sinh Solanki and Natwar Singh — resign when allegations were made against them.
Another party spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi took on the PM for abdicating “Raj Dharma” in favour of “Sushma Dharam, Raje Dharam and Lalit Dharam.” Using his Yoga propagation last Sunday, he said the PM is in permanent ‘Maun Yog’ mode, oblivious to constitutional proprieties, conflict of interest, quid-pro-quo and blatant misuse of office.
“From ‘Maulana Masood Azhar’ to Lalit Modi,’’ ”Kandahar, Afghanistan” to ”London UK” and from former Foreign Minister — Shri Jaswant Singh — to present Foreign Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj, BJP follows a policy of releasing criminals, terrorists and fugitives on ”humanitarian grounds,” Sin-ghvi said.
Kaushal told NDTV that he had rejected the job proposal. “I have been a lawyer for Lalit Modi for over 20 years… I did not given my consent to be the director. The request was withdrawn,” he told the channel.
But the Congress suggest-ed the job offer was withdrawn by Modi for fear of adverse consequences. Singhvi said it raised many questions like why the offer was made in the first instance; also did it not establish the personal-business relationship between Sushma and the fugitive Modi?
“In this background, does the proposed appointment not prove moral turpitude, gross constitution impropriety and quid-pro-quo,” Sin-ghvi asked. He wondered whether the PM was kept in the dark about this and, if not, what action did he take?
He also dared the PM to release all communications written by the UPA government to the British government for repatriation and criminal action against Lalit Modi, how these communications were withdrawn by the foreign ministry under Sushma Swaraj and divulge the transcript of her meeting with British High Commissioner Sir James Bevan for helping out the fugitive.
Singhvi further asked the PM to reveal how many BJP ministers and chief ministers have “friendly, family and humanitarian relations” with Lalit Modi and the names of their spouses and children in his employment.
Congress asks PM to reveal how many BJP ministers and chief ministers have “friendly, family and humanitarian
relations” with Lalit Modi and seeks the names of their spouses and children in his employment.
