Lalit Modi row: Sushma ready to make statement in Parl

Facing Opposition heat on 'Lalitgate', Government on Monday made it clear that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is ready to make a statement in Parliament on allegations against her on facilitating Lalit Modi’s travel documents. Talking to reporters after an all party meeting called by him on the eve on Monsoon beginning tomorrow, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters that Swaraj was keen to make a statement on the Lalit Modi issue. At the same time, Naidu rejected the demand for resignation being made by Congress. Opposition parties had been closing ranks against the government on several issues including the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh and the Lalit Modi controversy in which names of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Swaraj have figured. The Opposition, mainly the Congress, has been demanding resignation of Raje, Swaraj and MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, a demand which has been spurned by the ruling dispensation. Bracing itself for a stormy session, the government has decided to go for an aggressive counter attack in the face of mounting criticism by the Opposition.

There is a view in the government that since the land bill is not coming up in this session, there may not be a sustained united Opposition attack on it on other issues. Already a number of Opposition parties like those from the Janata Parivar have shown that they do not share the Congress enthusiasm in seeking Swaraj's resignation. Even in the all the party meeting today, Congress appeared to be isolated on its stance of "no resignation, no House" as most other parties said in the meeting that a washout of Parliament is not a solution.

Naidu said 29 opposition parties did not back Congress stand on not allowing the House to function. However, NCP's Tariq Anwar and CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury felt that the government needs to take action on the issue.