Lalit Modi row: No need for husband's sign for operation in Portugal, claims Congress

The Congress party on Monday continued to agitate for External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's resignation in light of the Lalit Modi controversy, claiming that the 'excuse' given by the BJP for her actions is invalid.

"The External Affairs Ministry is a sensitive division and to work with such a lack of responsibility... She has gone out of her way to provide Lalit Modi with help. She talks to a British MP and the British High Commissioner and Lalit Modi gets the requisite travel papers in 24 hours," Congress leader PL Punia told the media.

"Sushma Swaraj acted on humanitarian grounds to facilitate Lalit Modi, who has been accused of laundering several hundred crores. They say it is so that Modi could visit his ailing wife in Portugal and sign papers before the operation is conducted. However, as per Portuguese law, it is not a requirement to obtain the signature of the husband for any surgical operations," he added.

Swaraj on Sunday had 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.