PM Modi 'scared', will put pressure for bringing back Lalit Modi: Rahul Gandhi

Gandhi further charged that Lalit Modi was a key link between the political system and black money

Rejecting the government's defence over the Lalit Modi issue, Rahul Gandhi today launched a scathing attack on External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he dared to bring the former IPL commissioner back to India for cleansing cricket.

Countering Swaraj's allegations against his father Rajiv Gandhi, the Congress Vice President said that the late prime minister's name been cleared by the judicial system of the country even as he alleged that she and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had defended "black money network" in Parliament yesterday.

He further charged that Lalit Modi was a key link between the political system and black money.

The Congress leader also asserted that his party would keep up pressure on the issue and took a jibe at Narendra Modi saying that he "gets scared".

Leading a Congress protest against the government inside Parliament complex, which was also joined by members from Left and Trinamool Congress, Gandhi rubbished Swaraj's counter offensive in Lok Sabha yesterday, asking why was she "hiding" whatever she did for Lalit Modi if it was truly for a humanitarian cause as has been claimed by her.

Taking a dig over the Modi surname common to the Prime Minister and the former IPL chairman, Gandhi said he was telling Narendra Modi to catch Lalit Modi and bring him back to India.

"I tell this to Modi-ji that he has an opportunity. Bring back Lalit Modi and clean up cricket. India is giving you (prime minister) a chance. You still have the credibility," he said.

Gandhi also remarked, "Many people think Modi-ji has guts, some people say he doesn't. If you don't bring back Lalit Modi, if you continue to allow these people to defend Lalit Modi the way Sushma-ji did... We have understood that this Prime Minister gets scared.

"We will put so much pressure that Lalit Modi is brought back and whatever mess that has emerged in cricket is cleaned up."

The Congress Vice President also referred to what he described as the climbdown of the government on the land Bill issue.