Parliament debates Lalit Gate, Kharge demands Sushma's resignation

Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday remained firm on his party's demand for the resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, as a debate finally commenced on the Lalit Modi row that has led to a paralysis of parliament for almost a month.

"If you had to help on humanitarian ground, you could have done that within the ambit of the law," said Kharge.

"Is it not recommendation when you say that it won't affect the relationship between India and the UK?" he asked.

The senior Congress leader also appealed to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the discussion.

"Today, we want the Prime Minister to listen to us, only then would we be assured that he would take any action," said Kharge.

Swaraj had earlier insisted that she had made "no request or recommendation" to the UK Government for former IPL chief Lalit Modi's travel documents but had left the decision to Britain.

She also said that she had not helped Lalit Modi, but his cancer-stricken wife.