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Keith Vaz under fire over Lalit Modi case

Sometime in July 2014 Lalit Modi spoke to me that his wife was suffering from Cancer and her surgery was fixed for 4th Aug in Portugal. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015

He told me that he had to be present in the Hospital to sign the consent papers. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015

Keith Vaz also spoke to me and I told him precisely what I told the British High Commissioner. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14,

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Lalit Modi questioned by joint ED-IT team

What forced EAM Sushma Swaraj to go out of the way to help an economic offender? She must explain: D Raja pic.twitter.com/mQ4S9x1hVF — ANI (@ANI_news) June 14, 2015

NEW DELHI: External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday admitted to helping controversial IPL founder and enforcement directorate offender Lalit Modi with his travel documents, but made it clear that she did so only on humanitarian grounds .Responding to a Times Now expose that showed Sushma helped Lalit Modi with travel documents, the external affairs minister accepted that she was indeed in touch with Lalit Modi in the month of July, 2014.The expose also revealed that Swaraj's husband was seeking favour at different levels from Lalit Modi.According to Times Now, Sushma Swaraj has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the issue, amid calls for her resignation.Earlier, in a series of tweets, the external affairs minister tried to clarify her position."Sometime in July 2014 Lalit Modi spoke to me that his wife was suffering from cancer and her surgery was fixed for 4th August in Portugal," Sushma says, adding, "he told me that he had to be present in the hospital to sign the consent papers."Sushma says that Lalit Modi informed her that UK government was ready to give him travel documents, but was restrained by a UPA Government communication that this will spoil Indo-UK relations."Taking a humanitarian view, I conveyed to the British High Commissioner that "British Government should examine the request of Lalit Modi as per British rules and regulations. If the British Government chooses to give travel documents to Lalit Modi that will not spoil our bilateral relations," Sushma tweeted.Sushma Swaraj further said that she said the same thing to Keith Vaz, when he called on her."I genuinely believe that in a situation such as this, giving emergency travel documents to an Indian citizen cannot and should not spoil relations between the two countries," Sushma said in one of the tweets.Justifying her stand on the issue, the external affairs minister goes on to say that "a few days later, Delhi high court quashed UPA government's order impounding Lalit Modi's passport on the ground that the said order was unconstitutional being violative of fundamental rights and he got his passport back."There was mixed reaction from opposition leaders on the issue.While some said she should resign on moral grounds, others felt she should not be demonized so early.Person like Sushma Swaraj should not be demonized so early, matter should be investigated properly, said Manoj Jha of the RJD.However, the Congress leaders demanded that Sushma Swaraj should resign immediately."Congress will demand resignation of Swaraj and PM should himself ask resignation if allegations are true," said Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad."If there are grounds of ‘compassion’, normal course should be followed, govt should give papers. Why does he need to go to external affairs ministry? Brinda Karat said reacting to the news.