NEW DELHI: Two days after the NDA government was hit by Lalit Modi’s visa controversy, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday came out in support of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, saying the allegations against her were baseless and the government as well as the party was solidly behind her.
“All the allegations raised against her are baseless. Her actions are bona fide. The entire government and the party are one on the issue. There should be no doubt on this,” Jaitley said at a joint press conference, also attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, for announcing a financial package for reconstruction and rehabilitation in Jammu and Kashmir. It is learnt that Jaitley, Sushma, Rajnath and MoS PMO Jitendra Singh met for about an hour in Rajnath’s office at North Block before the conference and discussed the entire controversy and the government defence on the matter. Responding to a question on why Sushma did not consult other ministries concerned before arriving at a decision, he said ministers are capable of taking decisions on their own and any such decision is the collective responsibility of the government.
Defending Sushma’s decision and the government stand on the issue, Jaitley clarified that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is still probing at least one case against Lalit Modi.
“The Enforcement Directorate has investigated several cases against the person concerned and showcause notices were issued in a large number of them. These showcause notices are a quasi-judicial function of the Enforcement Directorate. The ED is discharging those functions. I understand that out of 16 investigations, in 15, showcause notices have been issued. One is still under investigation,” Jaitley added.
The Finance Minister also clarified that Interpol did not issue any blue corner notice against Lalit Modi but it was in fact the light blue notice of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence on the ED’s request.
“There is confusion about shades of blue corner notice. There is a procedure of issuing blue corner notice by Interpol and there is a procedure for light blue notice by DRI on request of ED and this was issued in 2010 and it remains valid.”
On the issue of passport of Lalit Modi and whether the government will challenge the Delhi HC order restoring the passport, Jaitley said it came within the jurisdiction of the passport authorities and they will make a decision. Sources in the Ministry of External Affairs had earlier indicated that since the ED was probing the case against Lalit, it should have approached the ministry with the request for challenging the HC order. more: P9
