PM should 'clear his own image', says TMC

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sougata Roy on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi ignored the main question of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, adding that "he should clear his own image rather than making his party leaders talk on behalf of him".

Roy told ANI, "I think Prime Minister Modi ignored the main question. The Prime Minister was expected to come clean rather he is making his party people say that 'he is as pure as the Ganges'. Why doesn't he reply to those questions?"

He further said being an opposition party leader Rahul Gandhi will naturally speak against the Prime Minister. "But it's for the Prime Minister to clear his own name." he added.

Speaking in Gujarat's Mehsana yesterday, Gandhi alleged that in the records with the Income Tax, there were notings of Sahara officials' claims that they paid Prime Minister Modi nine times between October 2013 and February 2014 and that the total amount was Rs. 40 crore.

He also alleged that according to documents with the IT department, the Birla Group too paid Rs. 12 crore to the Prime Minister.

Seeking an independent inquiry, Gandhi said that he was raising the issue "on behalf of the country".