PM should break silence, get Swaraj, Raje to resign: Congress

The Congress today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of adopting “double standards” on corruption and said it expected him to break his silence on Lalit Modi issue and seek the resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

“On one hand, the Prime Minister talks of bringing back black money and fighting corruption while on the other his senior colleagues, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje are supporting somebody who has broken the laws of the land and against whom Enforcement Directorate has filed cases,” senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said here, referring to Lalit Modi issue.

Alleging that the former IPL boss was a “proclaimed offender,” Ramesh alleged misuse of position and conflict of interest on the part of the External Affairs Minister and also referred to Raje's son entering into financial transactions with Lalit Modi.

“The PM has spoken about corruption and black money but here is a case of clear double standards. Congress expects that after the International Yoga Day, the maun-vrat (silence) of the Prime Minister is broken and the PM speaks something over this issue and also take some firm steps,” he said.

In the last five days, Congress had asked 34 pointed questions to BJP “but no answer has come”, Ramesh said, adding that the Prime Minister should break his “deafening silence” and move decisively to secure the resignation of Swaraj and Raje.

“In the interest of the country... the sooner the Foreign Minister and the Rajasthan Chief Minister resign, the better it will be,” he said.

Ramesh also wondered why TDP and TRS were silent. “I am surprised that TDP, which is an ally of BJP, and TRS, which is hoping to be an ally of BJP, are completely silent... we want to know their position.”