CHENNAI: Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday hit back at the Congress over the Lalit Modi travel documents row, charging that the party was raising a non-issue to target External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
The Union Minister said the Congress was frustrated and had shown its complete bankruptcy by raising a non-issue.
On the photos showing Lalit Modi with Swaraj besides Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the picture was five years old when Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat and head of the State Cricket Association, with Shah being his deputy in the board.
“Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son and vice-president Rahul Gandhi have been clicked practically with all coal scam accused, 2G (spectrum allocation) scam accused and Aircel-Maxis scam accused besides those accused of CWG scam,” Javadekar pointed out and added that even Congress leaders were spotted with Lalit Modi. “Congress is levelling baseless charges. After Sushmaji’s clarification there is no issue at all,” he added.
Asked about Karnataka’s move to construct a check dam across river Cauvery at Mekedatu, which has been opposed by Tamil Nadu, the Minister said his department had not received any proposal seeking clearance in this regard. Responding to another query, he said his Ministry had not given any permission to the Kerala government for constructing a new dam near the Mullaiperiyar dam in Idukki.
