CPI (M) asks PM to stop 'propaganda', break silence on Lalit Modi visa row

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been talking very loudly about maximum governance and accountability, must break his silence on the ongoing controversy regarding External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj helping former IPL chairman Lalit Modi in securing the travel documents.

"First of all, the point is that they are very serious charges that have been raised against the Minister of External Affairs, but the prerogative of rule remain in the ministry or not is that of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister and the BJP who has been talking very loudly about a new style of governance, minimum governance and maximum governance, accountability and that there has been no corruption in the last one year, all these have been issues of propaganda," Yechury told the media here.

"But, when it actually comes to brass tacks, you have this incident where the Prime Minister is absolutely quiet and silent. We are asking the Prime Minister to tell us how this is going to be addressed and the matter be made accountable to both to the Parliament and the country," he added.

Swaraj had on Sunday said that she had taken a humanitarian view of Lalit Modi's case since his wife was suffering from cancer.

She further said that British MP Keith Vaz had spoken to her on the same, adding she believes that giving an Indian citizen 'emergency travel documents' cannot spoil relations between India and the UK.

Vaz, who is facing an inquiry in the UK over the role he played in Modi receiving his travel papers, said that he had checked with the Indian Government before taking any action and added that he had received a 'no objection' from New Delhi.