Sushma Swaraj admits to role in expediting Lalit Modi's travel documents
By ANI | ANI – 1 hour 13 minutes ago
New Delhi, June 14 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday admitted that she helped expedite the travel documents of former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi, enabling him to move to London, despite the red alert issued by the government.
Meanwhile, the Opposition parties are gunning for the resignation of the External Affairs Minister having got an issue to beat the Bharatiya Janata Party with.
Sharing her thoughts via a series of tweets, Swaraj said that she took a humanitarian view of Modi's case since his wife was suffering from cancer.
"Sometime in July 2014 Lalit Modi spoke to me that his wife was suffering from Cancer and her surgery was fixed for 4th Aug 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."
"However, they were restrained by a UPA Government communication that this will spoil Indo-UK relations."
"Taking a humanitarian view, I conveyed to the British High Commissioner that "British Government should examine the request of..."
"...Lalit Modi as per British rules and regulations. If the British Government chooses to give travel documents to Lalit Modi,"
"- that will not spoil our bilateral relations."
Swaraj further said that British MP Keith Vaz had spoken to her on the same, adding that she believes that giving an Indian citizen 'emergency travel documents' cannot spoil relations between India and the UK.
"Keith Vaz also spoke to me and I told him precisely what I told the British High Commissioner."
"I genuinely believe that in a situation such as this, giving emergency travel documents to an Indian citizen cannot and should not..."
"spoil relations between the two countries."
The minister also noted that the Delhi High Court in a later ruling restored Modi's passport.
"I may also state that only a few days later, Delhi High Court quashed UPA Government's order impounding Lalit Modi's Passport on the..."
"...ground that the said order was unconstitutional being violative of fundamental rights and he got his Passport back."
Vaz, who is facing an inquiry in the UK over the role he played in Modi receiving his British travel papers, said that he had checked with the Indian government before taking any action, adding that he had received a 'no objection' from New Delhi.
According to reports, he has named Swaraj as the person he had been in contact with. (ANI)
Sushma Swaraj helped Lalit Modi procure travel documents?
TNN | Jun 14, 2015, 10.10 AM IST
- NEW DELHI: External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday admitted to helping controversial IPL founder and enforcement directorate offender Lalit Modi with his travel documents, but made it clear that she did so only on humanitarian grounds.
Responding to a Times Now expose on the Lalit Modi's travel documents issue, Sushma Swaraj accepted that she was indeed in touch with Lalit Modi in the month of July, 2014.
The expose also revealed that Swaraj's husband was seeking favour at different levels from Lalit Modi in return of the travel documents.
In a series of tweets, the external affairs minister tried to clarify her position, amid calls for her resignation from the opposition.
"Sometime in July 2014 Lalit Modi spoke to me that his wife was suffering from cancer and her surgery was fixed for 4th August in Portugal," Sushma says, adding, "he told me that he had to be present in the hospital to sign the consent papers."
Sushma says that Lalit Modi informed her that UK government was ready to give him travel documents, but was restrained by a UPA Government communication that this will spoil Indo-UK relations.
"Taking a humanitarian view, I conveyed to the British High Commissioner that "British Government should examine the request of Lalit Modi as per British rules and regulations. If the British Government chooses to give travel documents to Lalit Modi that will not spoil our bilateral relations," Sushma tweeted.
Sometime in July 2014 Lalit Modi spoke to me that his wife was suffering from Cancer and her surgery was fixed for 4th Aug in Portugal.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015
He told me that he had to be present in the Hospital to sign the consent papers.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015 Sushma Swaraj further said that she said the same thing to Keith Vaz, when he called on her.
"I genuinely believe that in a situation such as this, giving emergency travel documents to an Indian citizen cannot and should not spoil relations between the two countries," Sushma said in one of the tweets.
Justifying her stand on the issue, the external affairs minister goes on to say that "a few days later, Delhi high court quashed UPA government's order impounding Lalit Modi's passport on the ground that the said order was unconstitutional being violative of fundamental rights and he got his passport back."
There was mixed reaction from opposition leaders on the issue.
While some said she should resign on moral grounds, others felt she should not be demonized so early.
Person like Sushma Swaraj should not be demonized so early, matter should be investigated properly, said Manoj Jha of the RJD.
However, the Congress leaders demanded that Sushma Swaraj should resign immediately.
"Congress will demand resignation of Swaraj and PM should himself ask resignation if allegations are true," said Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad.
