Congress made ineffective bid to get Lalit Modi back: BJP

NEW DELHI: BJP on Friday said Congress' attempt to raise the Lalit Modi case held no water as the UPA government's ineffective bid to seek the former IPL chief's return failed to convince then UK chancellor George Osborne who finally referred that matter to a junior minister.

Environment and forests minister Prakash Javadekar said Congress was trying to divert attention from its involvement in the case regarding the firm 'Young Indian' in which Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were major stake holders and whose dealings have come under a cloud.

Sources said the three letters written by then finance minister P Chidambaram to Osborne failed to make out a case for any offence that could result in a deportation as was being claimed by Congress. The references to cancellation of Modi's passport also did not pass muster with UK law that held that is his entry was valid he could remain in the country till his visa was operational.

In fact, the insincerity in the UPA approach lay in it making a weak case that only resulted in a blue corner notice. The continued flaws in the Indian approach finally led the UK chancellor turning the matter over to a junior.

Javadekar said, "When Jaitley and Swaraj gave their replies, they had no answers. Congress was completely exposed. It is an old and stale issue. Congress is just using a diversionary tactic and running away from inconvenient questions about Young Indian."

He reiterated that 'Young Indian' took a loan from a firm involved in black money deals and questioned acquisition of Associated Journals, that ran the defunct National Herald and which owns expensive real estate in many cities.

Javadekar said the Young Indian affair and the case regarding Gandhi son-in-law Robert Vadra acquiring land in Haryana were two "unique" models. "He (Vadra) buys land for Rs 8 crore and the seller does not even encash the cheque. He then sells the same land to the same seller for 58 crore in a few months. Congress gives a loan of Rs 90 crore to Associated Journals and Young Indian is issued shares worth Rs 90 crore. Congress should explain this magic formula," he said.