Congress asks silent PM to move out of Lalit 'asana'

The Congress Party on Sunday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence on the controversy surrounding former IPL boss Lalit Modi and said that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj should step down for helping a fugitive.

"The mentor of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the 'margdarshak' chief has said that in public life probity is of importance. The people of India expect that a politician will step aside till cleared by the courts or any agency, step down from their position and let the law take its own course," Congress leader Tom Vadakkan told ANI here.

Vadakkan further said that he expects Prime Minister Modi to speak on the issue when he addresses the nation in his 'Mann ki Baat' programme today.

Be what it may, I think it is time for the Prime Minister to speak, the 'margdarshak has spoken, the mentor of the Bharatiya Janata Party has spoken, silence from the Prime Minister is not what the nation expects'," he added.

BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani has reportedly said in an interview that political credibility was essential and added that the politicians must live up to the trust placed in them by the voters.

In 'Mann ki Baat', Prime Minister Modi shares his thoughts with the nation. The programme aims to deliver the Prime Minister's voice to the general masses of the country since television connection is still not available everywhere, especially in the rural regions of remote locations.

The first edition of the programme was aired on October 3, 2014.