Did not help Lalit Modi to get travel documents: Sushma Swaraj

NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha failed to conduct any business on Monday with the Opposition demanding that external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and BJP chief ministers Vasundhara Raje and Shivraj Singh Chouhan resign in the wake of Lalit Modi and Vyapam controversies.

In the din, Leader of the House Arun Jaitley said Swaraj — who was present in the House — can make a statement on the Lalit Modi issue and the discussion and take off from there. Before the Opposition could react, Swaraj was on her feet. She said the Opposition charge against her was “completely baseless and false.”

“I have never requested the British government to give travel documents to Lalit Modi. I never put in a word for him. This charge is being made against me everyday,” she said. Swaraj said she has been coming to the House everyday to make a statement but the Opposition is not allowing her to do so.

“But they don’t start the discussion, they just create ruckus. The facts this notice is based on are baseless and untrue... I never requested the British government to give travel documents to Lalit Modi,” said Sushma Swaraj.