Congress wants SC-monitored SIT probe into 'Modigate'

NEW DELHI: Hardening further its stand on 'Modigate', Congress today demanded a Supreme Court-monitored SIT probe into the "scandal".

Having already demanded the resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and registration of a case against her for assisting scam-tainted Lalit Modi in obtaining travel documents in the UK, the party alleged since the "senior leadership" in the government was "in cahoots" with the former IPL boss, an independent inquiry was required.

"There has been nexus of the senior leadership of the government (with former IPL boss Lalit Modi) who have been in cahoots in cricket management or mismanagement. An independent inquiry by a Supreme Court-monitored SIT is necessary," party spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters.

He insisted a thorough investigation in the affair is needed as the issue is "not restricted" to just to travel documents.

Alleging "Lalit Modi is personally known to the highest in the BJP", he recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also associated with the Gujarat Cricket Association when he was the state's Chief Minister.

"The ruling party is involved.......Those in the government cannot be trusted. It has to be done by a Supreme Court-monitored Special Investigation Team", he said.

Targeting the Prime Minister for maintaining silence on the issue, Sharma said he needed to speak up as "what has happened is scandalous".

He faulted Home Minister Rajnath Singh for "hailing" Swaraj's "humanitarian" act of helping Lalit Modi get travel documents from the British government, purportedly for the treatment of his cancer-stricken wife in Portugal.

"How can the Home Minister say that what Sushmaji has done is a good thing. The job of the Home Minister is to bring back to the country fugitives and wanted persons from abroad. What sort of patriotism is this?" he wondered.