External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday said a senior Congress leader had pressed her hard to give diplomatic passport to a scam accused Congress leader.
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Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha were paralysed for the second straight day today as the Opposition forced four adjournments by creating uproar over the Lalit Modi and Vyapam scam of Madhya Pradesh. Azad told journalists at the AICC briefing when specifically asked whether he was the Congress leader Swaraj had referred to.
The Congress has maintained its stand of not allowing Parliament to function if the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh Chief Ministers do not resign.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said “Investigation happens when there is a breach of legal provision”.
While Swaraj and Raje are under fire for helping tainted former IPL chief Lalit Modi, who faces an Enforcement Department probe for alleged money laundering and forex violations, Chouhan is under pressure to quit over the Vyapam admission and recruitment scandal. On skipping Mr. Jaitley’s meeting, he said the message was delivered informally with no agenda communicated and his party had decided to stay away.
NEW DELHI • Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed yesterday for opposition support in pushing through key reforms, as Parliament began a new session set to be dominated by corruption allegations against members of his party. The Government accused the Opposition of interested only in disruption, not discussion.
“We will aggressively and effectively counter the disinformation campaign of Congress”, said party media cell in-charge Shrikant Sharma, who was present at Shah’s meeting.
But analysts say foreign investors will be monitoring the new turmoil with concern, despite the fact no BJP leader has been charged with any wrongdoing.
As soon as the house met after the adjournment till noon, parliamentarians from the Congress and other parties were up on their feet, demanding action from the government over their demand for the resignation of the BJP leaders. “So we will be fair to all states“, he said. The BJP argues that Modi was helped on humanitarian grounds because he needed to travel to Spain in connection with his wife’s ill health, and that Swaraj had done nothing illegal or immoral.
Leaders of nearly all opposition parties, including the Congress and the Left, trooped to the speaker’s podium wearing black bands and carrying placards.
The House witnessed unprecedented noisy scenes forcing Speaker to adjourn the House till tomorrow.
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As members were yet to move out of the House, Modi patted Vinay Katiyar on the back as he was standing in the aisle to leave.
