Sushma keen to make statement on Lalit Modi issue: Naidu

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was keen to make a statement in parliament on the Lalit Modi controversy surrounding her.

“Sushma Swaraj is keen to make a statement in respect of the allegations against her regarding Lalit Modi’s travel documents,” Naidu told reporters in New Delhi after an all-party meeting.

The monsoon session of parliament begins on Tuesday.

He also ruled out the resignations of Sushma Swaraj as well as Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh chief ministers Vasundhara Raje and Shivraj Singh Chouhan, respectively, as demanded by the Congress.

Naidu told the leaders at the all-party meeting that the government would like to make statements on the visits of the prime minister to the Central Asian countries and on some major initiatives taken by the government, a government statement said.

According to the statement, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said at the all-party meet that developments relating to Vyapam and Lalit Modi were serious and the government should take action in this regard.

Azad also demanded the resignations of the union minister and others.

Sushma Swaraj has admitted that she helped Modi procure documents to travel to Portugal for the treatment of his cancer-stricken wife on “humanitarian grounds”.

Meanwhile, Naidu expressed concern over media reports that the ensuing monsoon session would be a washout and hoped that the reports won’t turn true. (IANS)