New Delhi: In a sharp reply to Congress for calling External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's speech in Lok Sabha a 'drama', Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union minister for Human Resource and Development Ministry Smriti Irani called it highly disrespectful.
Challenging Sonia, Irani said, "It's easy for Soniaji to give a byte, not easy for her to give a speech without reading it out from a paper. Calling an elected leader's speech theatrics is disrespecting the mandate of the people."
Clarifying her stand on the controversy for allegedly helping Indian Premier League chief Lalit Modi, Sushma had on Thursday made an emotional appeal in Lok Sabha and claimed that she only signed the documents on humanitarian grounds. However, in no mood to relent, the Congress led by party chief Sonia Gandhi rejected the Minister's claims and termed the speech mere "theatrics".
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, too, demanded answers over why the whole matter was kept as secret as if it is a "theft".
Replying to the External Affairs Minister's question if she would have acted differently if faced with such a situation, Sonia Gandhi said, "Sushma Swaraj is doing drama, she is an expert in theatrics. I would have certainly done my best to help the lady but not by breaking the law."
Rahul Gandhi went a step further, saying the External Affairs Minister should explain how much money Swaraj's family got from Lalit Modi.
"When a theft occurs, two things take place. Whatever happens is in secrecy and there is a financial transfer. What Sushmaji did was by maintaining secrecy and keeping her ministry in the dark," he said.
"Sushmaji should tell the country how much money her family, her daughter and husband got from Lalit Modi to keep him out of jail", Rahul said.
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