Cong rejects Sushma's 'tear jerker' defence

The Congress on Thursday rejected as a “tear jerker” External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s defence over allegations of helping former IPL chairman Lalit Modi get travel documents in Britain.

“Sushma Swaraj cannot hide behind an emotional shield. Her statement is hogwash. It exposes her,” senior AICC spokesperson Anand Sharma told reporters here.

On Swaraj’s claim as to what Sonia Gandhi would have done has she been in her position, Sharma said the Congress president “would never help anyone who is under scanner”.

The Congress punched holes in the minister’s defence contending that she intervened to facilitate travel documents for Lalit Modi only after the British government had denied the same to the former IPL chairman.

Sharma also rejected Swaraj’s claims that Lalit Modi’s wife was faced with a “life threatening situation”. “Soon after getting the British travel document, Lalit Modi went on a virtual global tour,” he said. The Congress made a Power Point presentation at its press conference showing pictures of Lalit Modi enjoying himself in tourist havens and partying with friends.

Congress Lok Sabha member Ranjeet Ranjan said Sushma should have helped poor women, instead of the wife of a millionaire.

The Congress also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he “cannot brazen it out by remaining silent”. “Accountability cannot have dual standards. There cannot be a different rule books for the Modi government and his ministers. We in the opposition are duty bound to enforce accountability,” Sharma said. Both Houses of parliament have been virtually crippled since the Monsoon Session began on July 21, with the opposition demanding the resignation of Sushma Swaraj as well as the Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.