After failing to debate the matter in the Rajya Sabha, Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj presented a dramatic defence in the Lok Sabha on Thursday over her involvement in the Lalit Modi row, claiming that that she had only helped an ailing woman and had never written to the British government for travel documents to be issued to the former IPL chairman. Questioning the opposition she asked, "Main poochhna chaahti hoon ki agar meri jagah Sonia ji hoti to kya karti? Marne ke liye chhod deti? (I want to know what Soniaji would have done if she was in my place? Would she have let the woman die?") "We helped a woman who is a citizen of India who is not involved in the crimes committed," she said. "Agar is tarah ki mahila ki madat karna gunah hai toh haan maine gunah kia hai, agar ek mahila ki madad karna apraadh hai, to han maine ye apraadh kia hai (If helping a woman cancer patient is a crime, then I admit having committed this crime),"she said. Swaraj also told the chair that she had been waiting or a long time to speak about all the allegations levelled against her. "I have been looking for an opportunity to speak in Parliement, but was unable to because of the ruckus created by the opposition she said." She also blamed the allegations against her on the alignment of her stars. She said, "The stars are probably not in my favour right now, or else those who have always supported me are demanding my resignation. But my firm belief is things will turn around." Speaking in the Lok Sabha to mostly empty opposition benches, Swaraj said, "The allegations against me are wrong, untrue and baseless. I have never recommended or requested the British government to provide travel documents for Lalit Modi." Criticising the opposition for the allegations levelled against her she said, "I challenge anyone to show a document, letter or email recommending Lalit Modi's case to the British government." "Did I help Lalit Modi escape from India? No. Did I ask the British government to give him travel documents? No," said Swaraj. The opposition benches were empty as the Congress and many other parties are boycotting the session over the suspension of 25 MLAs. Other parties like the Samajwadi Party, AAP, Left front have also been supporting the boycott. Swaraj had attempted to debate the issue in the Rajya Sabha but has been unable to do so thanks to the Congress which has been seeking her resignation. Explaining what led to Lalit Modi getting travel documents, she said, "Lalit Modi's wife has been suffering from cancer for the past 17 years. When it relapsed for the tenth time, doctors told her it was life threatening and said it was important for her to have her husband around for the surgery in Portugal." She said the British government had approached India asking if giving him travel documents would affect bilateral ties of the two countries. "I never asked them or even requested them to do so," she said adding, "What I did was on humanitarian grounds." However, opposition party leaders did not buy her explanation. Congress leader Manish Tiwari said, "Sushma Swaraj's statement is complete hogwash." Meanwhile Ambika Soni said, "A statement from Swaraj cannot omit her guilt in this case."

• published: 06 Aug 2015
• views: 7