On getting cornered by Opposition parties and dissidence rising in the BJP over backing former IPL chief Lalit Modi, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday was forced to say that a probe against Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje’s son Dushyant Singh will continue.
Jaitley, who is on a nine-day visit to the US, had earlier termed Modi’s Rs 11.63-crore (approx) transactions with Dushyant as a “commercial” one. Asserting that his remark on the issue was misinterpreted, Jaitley, on the sidelines of a public event at the Stanford University, said: “I have never used such a word. That is never a part of my domain. That is <g data-gr-id="42">clear</g> misinterpretation of what I said. Whatever various assessing authorities in India have to do, it’s their job. They would continue doing that.”
The difference of opinion among party leaders seems to have sent the BJP’s top brass into a tizzy. A section of leaders <g data-gr-id="35">want</g> a fair probe into the <g data-gr-id="36">matter,</g> while some are aggressively defending External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Raje.
On Monday, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari called on the Rajasthan Chief Minister in Jaipur and claimed that both Raje and Swaraj were innocent. A day earlier, former cricketer and MP Kirti Azad had slammed leaders involved in cricket management (indicating towards Jaitley) and demanded a probe against them. On Tuesday, the Rajasthan Cabinet passed a resolution, thanking Gadkari for infrastructure development in the state.
After Azad’s remarks, former Home Secretary’s ire against party’s stand on the issue is sending tremors within the BJP, especially ahead of the crucial Bihar polls. Both Singh and Azad are from Bihar. The Opposition has already said that the issue would affect the upcoming session
in Parliament.
Dismayed over the roles of Swaraj and Raje for helping Modi, the former Home Secretary said: “Any help to a <g data-gr-id="39">bhagoda</g> (fugitive) is legally and morally wrong. The government should take all measures to bring him (Modi) back to India to face the law.” “Lalit Modi had been evading judicial warrants and summons. He was clearly a fugitive and any <g data-gr-id="37">help given</g> to him or any meeting with him was wrong,” Singh said without naming Swaraj or Raje.
Meanwhile, a nexus between Modi and BJP ministers turned murkier, after Singh hinted that Jaitley was among the BCCI members, who have received huge cash as travel and dearness allowances from the cricket <g data-gr-id="83">board,</g> and expressed doubts if they have shown it in their IT returns.
Modi in his tweet stated: “Hope these @arunjaitley @ianuragthakur @ShuklaRajiv have shown in their returns. Will all members who have taken TA/DA from @IPL and @BCCI and state associations reported that income. If not why?” He also claimed that Jaitley had met him alone in <g data-gr-id="89">London,</g> when the UPA government was in power. “Mr @arunjaitley whilst you were <g data-gr-id="88">leader</g> of the Opposition did u meet Mr Lalit Modi alone in #london for hours at the #stjamescourt taj hotel (sic),” Modi tweeted.
In a related development former Interpol chief Ron Nobel in an email said: ‘’At no point prior to or since that first meeting (with Lalit Modi in 2013) did Interpol receive a request from India to assist it in any alleged investigation of Mr Lalit Modi.” He added, ‘’Nor did Interpol ever receive a request from India to publish a Blue Notice or any other notice for Mr Lalit Modi.” Lalit Modi had once posted pictures with Nobel at a football match.