Won't let parliament function till Sushma, Raje removed: Congress

Sticking to its demand, the Congress on Tuesday said it was determined to ensure accountability by the BJP-led government and will not let parliament function till its demands for the resignations of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje are met.

Both Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje have been accused of helping former IPL chief Lalit Modi acquire travel documents from the British government since his Indian passport was revoked.

Rejecting the government offer of a discussion on the issue in the Rajya Sabha, Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said: "This government is thick-skinned and think they are not accountable. Both houses of parliament will function only after there is accountability."

"If the prime minister and his government think they can brazen it out, they are wrong and the coming events will prove it," he said.

The government, led by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, accused the Congress of not being keen on a debate over its allegations about BJP leaders' links with Lalit Modi as the first day of the monsoon session of parliament saw several adjournments on the issue in the Rajya Sabha.

The Lok Sabha, however, adjourned for the day after obituary references.

Asked about the BJP's attacks on the Congress for being an "irresponsible" opposition, Sharma said the BJP, and especially Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj, were suffering from collective loss of memory and the prime minister was on a fast of silence.

He said the BJP should remember how it had disrupted parliament on various demands during its 10 years in opposition.

"They spoilt many sessions of parliament when they were in opposition. The accusations against us are baseless," Sharma said.

"The BJP was an irresponsible opposition. If in the last one year of the NDA government, any bill was passed, then the credit goes to the Congress," he added.

The Congress leader, who led the charge against the government in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, said the Lalit Modi controversy was not a matter for discussion.

"We will force accountability. This is about giving protection to a person running from the rule of law. The external affairs minister has said they are ready to make statements. What statements can they make?"

Asking the prime minister to break his silence on the matter, Sharma said Narendra Modi had promised a transparent and accountable government and he has only worked against these promises.

"One after another, scams are coming to the fore. We want accountability. How the house will run, the prime minister has to decide."