Jaitley defends Modi comment on 'scam to skill India'

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark "scam to skill India", saying there was nothing wrong in discussing corruption anywhere in the world.

The Congress on Tuesday raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha asking why Modi, while on his three-nation tour recently, made such comments which "defame the country".

In this age of internet and other technological advancement, it's not possible to keep debates or discussions limited, Jaitley said responding to the Congress' question as to why did Modi say these things on the foreign soil.

"Everything being done here could be seen or heard anywhere," the minister said, adding that the Congress does not have issues that's why it's questioning the prime minister on this matter.

Speaking to reporters, Jaitley said there was nothing wrong in the prime minister discussing the issue of corruption with the Indian diaspora.

"Corruption is not crime but discussion is," the minister wondered, adding that it was "strange" on the part of the Congress to raise objection to Modi commenting in Toronto that the present government was taking the country from "scam to skill India".

The issue was raised by the Congress' Anand Sharma in the Rajya Sabha, and Jaitley responded to it. But there was uproar in the house and it led to three adjournments during the question hour - first one was for five minutes and then another one for 15 minutes and the house was finally adjourned till 2.00 p.m. over the issue.