Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The opposition today stepped up its demand for a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Lalit Modi controversy. The demands grew more strident after PM Modi skipped the issue on his monthly radio address Mann ki Baat and what was interpreted as senior BJP leader LK Advani's veiled criticism on the subject.
"It is in the interest of PM to take action against the culprits... If he does not break his silence, people will start asking for his resignation," said senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, referring to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje.
The two leaders have been under vociferous attack for helping tainted cricket boss Lalit Modi with travel documents and immigration application. While the BJP has made it clear that it is backing both, the Congress has questioned PM Modi's silence.
Today, after PM Modi's radio address, Mr Azad expressed his disappointment over his "failure" to speak on the controversy. "Every Sunday he talks about 'Mann ki Baat', but doesn't answer the basic questions," said senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh.
The Aam Aadmi Party, the Left and the Janata Dal United too, criticized the Prime Minister. "Why is he keeping silent? Whom is he protecting?" asked CPI leader D Raja.
The BJP said the Prime Minister was addressing matters of "national importance" in his radio address.
"The Congress need not dictate what the PM should speak about," said party leader Nalin Kohli. "The Lalit Modi controversy took place under the Congress rule and Sonia Gandhi should speak on it," added party spokesperson Sambit Patra.
Yesterday, senior BJP leader LK Advani, while refraining from comments on Ms Raje and Ms Swaraj, recalled how he had stepped down as a Member of Parliament after his name cropped up in the Jain hawala scam, reported Bengali daily Ananda Bazar Patrika. "What morality demands is 'rajdharma'," the daily quoted him as saying.