Cricket is Jaitley's 'private duty', says Swamy

Following a demand from the Congress for Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to resign for his alleged role in a scam involving the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Thursday said cricket is Jaitley's private not public duty.

"It is a contempt of LS/RS for opposition to raise AJ's DDCA alleged corruption in the two Houses since cricket is his private not public duty," Swamy said in a tweet.

Swamy further stressed on the fact that the issue is Jaitley's personal matter and the party or the government has got nothing to do with it.

"Cricket is a not a part of our party. Only Jaitley can give answer on that. We do not need to intervene in this. Even Jaitley did not ask for support from us. I think it will be wrong to bring this issue up in Parliament. There's a decorum and it should not be crossed," he said.

"How can they ask for resignation in the Parliament? They can demand for probe on it. Many a time, Kirti Azad has given statement on this. Jaitley should answer on this, we should not intervene in this. If they want his resignation, they can take to the roads and demand it. But there is no point asking for his resignation in the Parliament," he added.

The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has rejected the allegations of irregularities against Arun Jaitley, and said that such charges were absolutely rubbish.

"Some allegations have been raised against the DDCA and it needs clarification as everyone is stating their point. First thing is allegation of irregularities on stadium construction. Stadium is made of Rs. 141 crores," DDCA working president Chetan Chauhan told the press conference.

Reacting to demands by the Congress Party and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for his resignation, Jaitley said he could answer specific issue, but he could not answer "vague allegation" without any basis.

"If they tell me what is the specific issue, I can answer it, but I can't answer vague allegation without any basis," he said.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Maken, said "The DDCA irregularity is a very serious matter, and thus, serious examination should be done and serious action should be taken. The DDCA issue should not be diluted, and should not be marred into political controversy as grave irregularities have been committed."

Demanding Jaitley's resignation, he said, "As long as Mr. Jaitley is the Finance Minister, and is the minister in-charge of corporate law affairs, how can you expect a fair trial to take place under his finance ministership?"

Demanding his "resignation for a fair and impartial probe", AAP Core Committee member Sanjay Singh told repoters: "Tomorrow (on Thursday), the AAP will divulge details of the DDCA irregularities, which will enable you to draw a complete picture of irregularities.