External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said in Parliament that there was not a shred of evidence that showed she helped the former cricket boss to get travel papers
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told the Lok Sabha on Thursday that she did not extend any favours to former Indian Premier League boss Lalit Modi. The Opposition has been pressing for her resignation over the allegation almost washing out the monsoon session.
“I have waited in both Houses for a chance to make a statement or for a discussion to take place, but it did not happen. Injustice is being done, as I didn't even get a chance to clarify or put forth my opinion,” said Swaraj, who finally made her position clear, in the absence of the Congress, who has boycotted the Lok Sabha following suspension of its 25 lawmakers.
"I challenge anyone to produce even one shred of evidence that shows I asked the United Kingdom government to provide Lalit Modi travel papers," she said amid thumping of benches by ruling Bharatiya Janata party members. “I had never requested the UK government to furnish travel documents to Lalit Modi.”
Last year, Lalit Modi was given the permission to accompany his wife, who is suffering from cancer, from London to Portugal for treatment. He left India in 2010 after a number of corruption cases were filed against him.
According to Swaraj, she only assured the UK government that if it decided to give Lalit Modi travel documents, it would not impact ties with India. "I did not seek to influence their decisions."
Emphasising yet again that she only acted on "humanitarian grounds", the minister told the Lower House, “Lalit Modi's wife faces no criminal case. Why should she be deprived of the support of her husband while being treated for cancer?”
"Lalit Modi's wife is suffering from cancer for the last 17 years and it has recurred 10 times. Did not request or recommend anything to the UK government. There is nothing in the UK home department papers to back it.
"If it is a crime to help a woman like her (a cancer patient), then, yes, I have committed a crime. If you (Speaker) were in my place, what would you have done? If Soniaji was in my place, what would she have done? Would you have left her (Lalit Modi's wife) to die,” Swaraj asked reading from the reports of Portuguese doctors and the statement of Lalit Modi's wife.
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.
The minister said, “Maybe my stars will be realigned and I will get back the goodwill of my colleagues. Those colleagues who used to love and respect me, today are speaking bitterly against me. They have even asked for my 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.
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