The Lalit Modi-Sushma Swaraj episode is burning up precious legislative time. Swaraj's statement did not clear up the matter. It is not possible to say that her intervention on Modi's behalf to let him travel out of the UK was on humanitarian grounds only. Nor can it be said that she did not help him obtain travel documents. Would she have intervened if the Modi family was not known to her?
She also possibly violated usual procedure by not getting the matter handled by the department concerned, or obtaining the views of her own officers and also that of the finance ministry. At the least, she could have asked Modi to return to India to depose before the Enforcement Directorate.
However the Opposition Congress has to introspect whether these allegations against Swaraj are serious enough and if Modi is such a heinous criminal that the entire parliamentary process should be halted for his sake. The cost to the nation is not the so-called financial cost of lost sessions, but the loss of opportunity and of sending out a message that the Indian state might be becoming ungovernable.
Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201 · E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number
She also possibly violated usual procedure by not getting the matter handled by the department concerned, or obtaining the views of her own officers and also that of the finance ministry. At the least, she could have asked Modi to return to India to depose before the Enforcement Directorate.
However the Opposition Congress has to introspect whether these allegations against Swaraj are serious enough and if Modi is such a heinous criminal that the entire parliamentary process should be halted for his sake. The cost to the nation is not the so-called financial cost of lost sessions, but the loss of opportunity and of sending out a message that the Indian state might be becoming ungovernable.
P Datta, Kolkata
Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201 · E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
SAVE 25%
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Subscribe
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
SAVE 25%