)
A fresh controversy involving External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in connection with her links to Lalit Modi erupted on Wednesday after it emerged that the former Indian Premier League (IPL) chief had offered her husband a position on the board of one of his family-run firms.
The new controversy gave more ammunition for the Congress to target the Narendra Modi government in the escalating Lalit Modi row, as the opposition party raised questions of conflict of interest and again demanded Sushma Swaraj’s resignation.
Read more from our special coverage on "LALIT MODI"
Sushma’s husband, Swaraj Kaushal, was offered the position of director to alternate for the controversial former IPL chief on the board of Indofil Industries, an integrated chemical company.
ALSO READ: Lalit Modi claims Varun Gandhi offered to 'settle everything' with Sonia Gandhi for $60 mn
The offer was made to Kaushal in April this year, months after Sushma Swaraj helped Lalit Modi get urgent travel documents in the UK, according to TV channels.
Lalit who is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for alleged money laundering, later withdrew the offer before it could be considered by the Board. He is based in the UK.
K K Modi, Lalit’s father and chairman and managing director of Indofil, said the proposal was withdrawn before it could be brought for consideration by the board. “So, the board never considered that request. That’s the current situation,” he said.
“Lalit didn’t give him (Swaraj Kaushal) power but a proposal that Kaushal be appointed as alternate director of company,” Modi said, adding “(when) he’s not on the board so where is the conflict of interest”. “No director can be appointed without following the rules and regulations which are laid out by law.”
Kaushal acknowledged he had been offered a position on the Indofil board. Stating he had been a lawyer for Lalit Modi for over 20 years, he said he was offered the post but did not give his consent and the request was withdrawn.
Congress asked Sushma Swaraj to come clean on the issue and asked the prime minister to break his “deafening silence” on the matter.
“Sushma Swaraj must tell the people of the country how many times she has met Lalit Modi or if any of her family members had been in touch with the fugitive,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters.
Demanding sacking of Swaraj, he reminded the prime minister that the Congress had adhered to the “highest standards of propriety” by asking for resignation of Madhavsinh Solanki and Natwar Singh when allegations were made against them while they were External Affairs Minister.
“I think it’s time for the Foreign minister to sing the national anthem and step down,” said another Congress leader Tom Vadakkan.
BJP said the Congress Party has run out of ideas and is desperately “clutching at straws”.
“Very routinely people are requested to be directors, lawyers, advocates. The Congress Party has run out of ideas and is desperately clutching at straws,” BJP leader Nalin Kohli said.
