No deal to government on Lalitgate, says Congress

The Congress on Wednesday dismissed as "totally baseless" and "mischievous" reports that it had offered a deal to government under which it was ready to support passage of GST bill in Parliament if it axed External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in the wake of the Lalitgate controversy.

All India Congress Committee Communication Department chief Randeep Surjewala said, "Sacking Swaraj and Raje are issues of righteousness, impropriety and holding the Modi government accountable to their promise of not shielding black money hoarders of the ilk of Lalit Modi.”

"Question of quid pro quo on this all pervading issue of morality and constitutional accountability does not arise," he said.

Rejecting the reports, senior party leader Jairam Ramesh said they are "totally baseless and mischievous". 

According to reports in a section of the media, the Congress has come forward with a proposal for the government -- axe Swaraj and Raje over Lalit Modi row and get support for Goods and Services Tax Bill in Parliament.

The reports said the Centre has rejected the offer from the Congress which has kept up the pressure on the National Democratic Alliance government over 'Lalitgate'. It said the Modi government has outrightly rejected the Congress' offer, saying there is no question of any deal with the Congress in Parliament session, be it on GST or Land Acquisition Bill. Instead, the BJP has agreed for a debate on any contentious issue.

The monsoon session of Parliament, which is set to commence on July 21, is expected to be a stormy affair with the Congress giving more than ample indications of disruptions if the government fails to take action on the Lalitgate issue.

The Congress has been demanding resignations of Swaraj and Raje over the Lalit Modi controversy, of Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani for allegedly misrepresenting facts about her educational qualification in separate election affidavits, and of Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde for her clearing purchases worth Rs 206 crore on a single day instead of inviting tenders in violation of norms.

Image: Former IPL chief Lalit Modi