Janjivan Bureau
New Delhi : Attempting to stave off a pitched Opposition campaign for the foreign minister’s resignation over helping former IPL boss Lalit Modi get foreign travel documents, finance minister Arun Jaitley dismissed allegations against Sushma Swaraj as baseless but he did not answer the question of ASTIN KA SAANP.
On Monday BJP MP Kirti Azad Twitted that Sushma Swaraj is the victim of ASTIN KA SAANP.Film actor and BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha also certifeid the Kirti remarks.When journalist asked about who is ASTIN KA SAANP, Jaitley closed the mouth.
“The entire government and party are one on the matter and there should be no room for any doubt. All allegations are baseless,” Jaitley told a press conference with home minister Rajnath Singh by his side. Agencies reported he spent an hour in a huddle with Swaraj and Singh before the conference.
“The minister is capable of taking decisions on her own. When she needs to seek government approval she will do that,” he said, responding to a question on why Swaraj did not consult other ministries before taking such a decision.
Jaitley joined a string of senior BJP leaders to rally behind Swaraj after party president Amit Shah and Singh amid swirling rumours of factionalism fuelled by tweets from Darbhanga MP Kirti Azad on Monday, who alleged internal conspiracy against the foreign minister.
The finance minister rejected charges of favouritism towards Lalit Modi, saying the Enforcement Directorate was investigating charges against the fallen cricket czar. “Show-cause notices have been issued to Lalit Modi in 15 out of 16 cases and one was still under investigation,” Jaitley said.
The finance minister also confirmed a “light-blue“ cornered notice against Lalit Modi by the directorate of revenue intelligence in 2010, clearing the air after the disgraced cricket boss’ lawyer said on Tuesday no Interpol blue corner notice existed. The blue corner notice is the second-most serious document issued by the international organisation as a request for cooperation or alerts allowing police to share critical crime-related information.
Two days after a London newspaper revealed the 63-year-old foreign minister asked British authorities to examine a travel request by the corruption-tainted Modi whose passport was revoked over money-laundering charges, Jaitley said Swaraj’s decisions were “bonafide” and she “acted in good faith”.
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