Sushma Swaraj acted with Narendra Modi's endorsement: Opposition

New Delhi: Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said Swaraj should resign immediately on moral grounds. He said there were questions as whether her action had "tacit" endorsement of the Prime Minister and his role was under a "cloud of suspicion".

His party colleague Sachin Pilot said the Prime Minister "must himself answer as to why they (government) have been helping, supporting people who have been associated with all sorts of illegal transactions, who have run away from the country and are living overseas trying to avoid Indian law."

JD(U) spokesman K C Tyagi said, "I condemn the help given to him (Lalit Modi) by Swaraj." CPI leader D raja said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi owes an explanation to the country on impropriety committed by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj."

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat termed the matter as a "case of grave impropriety" and said "it is the duty of the Prime Minister to answer". AAP spokesman Ashutosh said Swaraj has "no option but to resign" and if she does not, then the Prime Minister should sack her.

Amidst the row, Home Minister Rajnath Singh met the Prime Minister and later said, "We want to make it clear that whatever she has done is right. We justify it and the government completely stands by her."

He said Swaraj told Vaz to do only what was "allowed" as per the rules and regulations of the UK. "Any person with humanitarian approach" should do the same, Singh said. When referred to opposition demands for her resignation, the Home Minister said, "I don't agree".

BJP chief Amit Shah also strongly defended Swaraj, saying she had acted in a "humanitarian" manner and "no big moral" issue was involved. Decrying "uproar" over the issue, he said attempts to gain "political mileage will not yield any results" as he attacked opposition Congress by referring to the Bofors scam and Union Carbide controversies.

"Sushmaji has herself clarified. The matter is clear. Lalit Modi had said his wife is suffering from cancer and

sought help. She (Swaraj) said if British rules permit, then he should be helped. There is no need for any uproar. There is no issue of moral grounds," Shah said, virtually rejecting opposition demands for her resignation. He said it was an Indian helping an Indian. Hitting back at Congress, the BJP chief said this matter was different from making Bofors scam accused Ottavio Quattrocchi "flee" from India or allowing Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson to "leave" the country.

RSS leader Indresh Kumar also defended Swaraj, saying whatever she might have done would have been guided by her "humane" nature and "nationalistic" spirit. "Sushmaji is full of nationalism and humane nature. Whatever she might have done, would be guided by nationalism and humane nature," he said.