Published: Jun 14, 2015, 12:31 PM (IST)
Edited: Jun 14, 2015, 12:34 PM (IST)
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday has denied recommending travel documents for former Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi, insisting that she just asked the British goverment to examine the request and follow the necessary procedure reported The Hindu.
Local media had reported that Labour MP Keith Vaz had recommended the documents after consultation with the Minister. She though explained her stance on Twitter in a series of Tweets. Read: British MP faces inquiry for intervening in Lalit Modi’s immigration application
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
He informed me that he had applied for travel documents in London and UK Government was prepared to give him the travel documents.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015
However, they were restrained by a UPA Government communication that this will spoil Indo-UK relations.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015
Taking a humanitarian view, I conveyed to the British High Commissioner that “British Government should examine the request of
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015
Lalit Modi as per British rules and regulations. If the British Government chooses to give travel documents to Lalit Modi,
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015
– that will not spoil our bilateral relations.
— 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, 2015
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She said that India did not mind if the British authorities were to give travel documents to Mr. Modi; who has sought them to be able to travel to Portugal for the treatment of his wife. She also said that she had made this clear to Mr. Vaz as well. “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. I may also state that only few days later, Delhi High Court quashed the 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,” she said. Read: Lalit Modi dethroned from post of RCA president
