New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday upped the pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party to take action against leaders who have been accused of helping former IPL chief Lalit Modi.
Addressing a press conference, Congress leader Sachin Pilot demanded that “Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje must resign on moral and legal grounds to pave way for a fair investigation”.
Raje is facing allegations of giving a secret testimony supporting Lalit Modi's immigration plea in the UK. Her son, Dushyant Singh, has also been accused of receiving money in illicit transactions from Lalit Modi.
Further, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has admitted to helping Lalit Modi secure travel documents in the UK.
“BJP is saying that till the time documents aren't verified they won't ask CM Raje to step down. But who will verify them?” Pilot asked.
“Double standards of BJP have been exposed. I had expected the PM to live up to his words of ‘no corruption’,” the Congress leader said, adding “PM Modi's famous words 'Na khaunga, na khaane dunga' have come back to haunt him”.
“BJP will have to ask the ministers to resign,” Pilot said.
He further slammed the BJP for speaking in two voices on the Lalit Modi issue.
“First BJP says Lalit Modi will be arrested the moment he comes to India. Then they say help extended (to Lalit Modi) was on humanitarian grounds,” Pilot said, adding the Congress party will be on the streets tomorrow demanding Raje's resignation.
Pilot also backed BJP leader and former home secretary RK Singh's remarks that it was wrong to meet or help Lalit Modi.
“I am sure there are several others like RK Singh ji in the BJP who are of the same view. Leaders in BJP and other parties openly say investigation must be conducted and these people must step down to allow a fair investigation,” Pilot said.
Singh said earlier today that a police commissioner meeting an absconder is not correct. He was referring to the meeting between Rakesh Maria, now Police Commissioner of Mumbai, and Lalit Modi.
“Lalit Modi should be brought back and he should face trial,” Singh added.
It is totally wrong to meet or help an absconder, he stated.
