Congress leader Jairam Ramesh says PM Narendra Modi is on 'Lalit-asana'
The Congress today devised a new yoga move to creatively deride what it called Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the Lalit Modi controversy - the "Lalit-Asana."
"The Prime Minister is sitting in a new asana - his ears, nose, eyes and mouth are all shut at the same time. We hope after the yoga day on Sunday, he will come out of the Lalit-Asana to the real world," said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.
PM Modi, who will launch grand celebrations of the International Yoga Day on Sunday, is yet to speak on the scandal swirling around Lalit Modi and opposition demands for the resignation of Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for helping the corruption-tainted former IPL chief.
The Congress and the Left have said they will not allow Parliament to function during next month's monsoon session unless the two leaders are removed.
"There is a deep nexus between a proclaimed offender (Lalit Modi), PM, Sushma Swaraj, Vasundhara Raje and Amit Shah. To save the monsoon session, there is no way out other than the resignation of Swaraj and Raje," Jairam Ramesh said.
The BJP hit back instantly. "The Congress only knows 'natmastak asana (obeisance asana). They have been doing this asana for so long at 10 Janpath (Sonia Gandhi's official residence). They don't understand the importance of yoga," said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra.
PM Modi and Amit Shah, the BJP president, met last night to discuss strategy to counter opposition attacks and prevent the Lalit Modi row from derailing the government's reforms agenda. The Modi government is keen to push stalled bills for a Goods and Services Tax and changes in the way farm land is acquired for key projects.