Skirting demands for his resignation, Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor rejected Opposition allegations of any misuse of authority to influence IPL Kochi franchise's successful bid or get any financial gains for him or to his friend Sunanda Pushkar.
"The notion that somebody is some sort of "proxy" for me is frankly insulting to me and to the professionalism and business ethics of the investors and their associates, particularly since I could ot not have any role in influencing the final outcome of a sealed bidding process.
"I have not benefited, and do not intend to benefit, in any way financial from my association with the team now or at a later stage," he said in a statement in Lok Sabha which was tabled after Opposition members created an uproar seeking his removal.
He said it has been clear for some time that the real motive behind the public controversy that has been created around him was to make the Kochi team unviable and to assign his IPL franchise elsewhere than Kerala.
"I believe all fair-minded Indians would hope that such tactics will not be allowed to prevail. The allegations are baseless, ill-founded and ill-motivated. I trust, Madam Speaker, that I have clarified my position to the satisfaction of this august House," he said.
The Opposition parties have been gunning for Tharoor's removal from the government ever since a controversy broke out on the IPL Kochi franchise bid. They have alleged that the Minister has misused his office to get sweat equity of the value of Rs.70 crore for his friend Pushkar from the team owners.
