Congress leader sought diplomatic passport for Coal scam accused Santosh Bagrodia: Sushma Swaraj

NEW DELHI: In remarks which can create controversy, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said a Congress leader had pressed her to give diplomatic passport to Coal scam accused Santosh Bagrodia.

However, the Minister did not disclose the name of the Congress leader, saying she would do so in Parliament.

"A senior Congress leader was pressing me hard to give diplomatic passport to Coal Scam accused Santosh Bagrodia

"I will disclose name of the leader on the floor of the House," Swaraj tweeted.

Bagrodia, who is a former minister of state for Coal, was yesterday summoned as accused by a Special Court in a coal scam case pertaining to allocation of Maharashtra's Bander coal block to AMR Iron and Steel Pvt Ltd.

Swaraj is facing ire of the opposition led by Congress which is demanding her resignation for helping controversial former IPL Chief Lalit Modi get travel documents.

The Congress yesterday disrupted Rajya Sabha over the issue on the opening day of the Monsoon Session. It rejected the government offer of a statement by Swaraj and a debate, saying she must resign first.