Opposition running from Lalit Modi debate: BJP

The ruling BJP on Tuesday said it was ready for a debate on the Lalit Modi controversy and accused the Opposition of running away from it.

Addressing a press conference in Parliament House, Bharatiya Janata Party leader and union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said if the Opposition wanted a discussion on the Vyapam scam, they must agree to discuss issues related to other states as well.

"The Congress does not know what it wants. They are running away from discussion because they know they will be exposed if the debate takes place," Prasad said.

He said the Congress and other parties wanted a debate on Tuesday morning. "Post lunch they wanted resignation," he said.

On the Opposition's mention of the Vyapam scam, he said there was a general consensus that state issues are not discussed in parliament.

"Debate on Vyapam has to be with a larger consensus that other state issues will also be raised," he said.

Prasad said issues that will be raised will range from the involvement of Congress governments in Goa and Assam in receiving bribes from an American firm, the LIC scam in Kerala, and even how Bhopal gas tragedy accused Warren Anderson and Bofors accused Ottavio Quattrocchi left India.

Prasad's comments came as the Rajya Sabha saw many disruptions with the Opposition first demanding a debate on the Lalit Modi issue, and later seeking the resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj before the debate could take place.