Sushma-Lalit Modi row: PM Modi main culprit, says Rahul Gandhi

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had nothing to do with the controversy surrounding former IPL chairman Lalit Modi, adding that it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is actually involved in the matter and is controlling it.

"What else they can do if they do not defend her. Narendra Modi ji has said that they will bring back the black money and will deposit 15 lakhs rupees to every account and now he has helped a person, who is involved in money laundering. Sushma ji has nothing to do with this; Narendra Modi ji is the one who is involved and controlling things. That is why the BJP is defending the matter," said Gandhi.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had earlier said that all the allegations against Swaraj are 'baseless' adding that whatever she did was with a 'good intention'.

"All allegations are baseless. Her statement and the party president's statement have also come out. Whatever she did was with a good intention, the government as well as the party have agreed on this. The ED has investigated several cases against Lalit Modi, showcause notices have been issued in many of them," said Jaitley while addressing a joint press conference with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Swaraj had on Sunday said 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 thesame, 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.