Somnath Chatterjee calls for sacking Sushma Swaraj

Calling for her sacking, former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Tuesday said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj helping former IPL chief Lalit Modi to procure travel documents was an "embarrassment" for the country.

"It's an embarrassment for the country that a minister has helped a person who has escaped out of India to avoid legal consequences. While she needs to introspect, I think it's time the prime minister takes a call on the issue and decide her (Sushma Swaraj) fate," Chatterjee told IANS.

"We all know Lalit Modi has been accused of financial impropriety including money laundering. Helping a person like Modi, will only encourage all sorts of people indulging in such activities."

"So I think, a strong action must be taken in this regard," he added.

Asked if Swaraj should be sacked, Chatterjee said: "Yes, the prime minister should take strong action."

The opposition has been gunning for Swaraj's removal after she admitted helping out the former Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner in securing documents to travel to Portugal in July last year for the treatment of his cancer-stricken wife.