New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party rallied to support foreign minister Sushma Swaraj as she sought to fend off calls for her resignation over assisting Lalit Modi, wanted in India for questioning on money laundering allegations.

With the controversy threatening to spiral out of control following The Sunday Times of London news report, Home Minister Rajnath Singh met Prime Minister Modi to discuss the matter. “We want to make it clear that whatever she has done is right,” Singh said after meeting the PM. “We justify it and the government completely stands by her.”

Party President Amit Shah and others also held several meetings on Sunday as the top echelons of the establishment sought to defuse the crisis and prevent it from forcing Swaraj’s departure from the Cabinet.

“Sushmaji has herself clarified,” Shah said. “The matter is clear. Lalit Modi had said his wife is suffering from cancer and sought help. She (Swaraj) said if British rules permit, then he should be helped. There is no need for any uproar. There is no issue of moral grounds,” he said, rejecting Opposition demands for her resignation. The Congress called for Swaraj’s resignation for having helped the former cricket administrator.

The UK paper reported that Labour MP Keith Vaz spoke to Swaraj last year to intervene on behalf of Lalit Modi, who’s been based in London these past few years. He wanted to travel to Portugal for his wife’s cancer surgery.

“Sometime in July 14, Lalit Modi spoke to me that his wife was suffering from cancer and surgery was fixed on August 4 in Portugal. He told me that he had to be present in the hospital to sign the consent papers,” Swaraj tweeted in her defence. She said that she had only sought to provide assistance of a humanitarian nature.

The incident was triggered after Britain’s Sunday Times reported an email exchange between influential Labour MP Keith Vaz and head of UK Visas and Immigration Sarah Rapson, citing Sushma Swaraj, to facilitate travel documents for Lalit Modi.

The Sunday Times in its report said: “Leaked correspondence reveals how Vaz cited Sushma Swaraj, India’s foreign minister, to the Home Office in an effort to expedite the case of Lalit Modi, a mutual acquaintance.”

“… Lalit Modi spoke to me that his wife was suffering from cancer and her surgery was fixed for 4th Aug in Portugal. He told me that he had to be present in the Hospital to sign the consent papers,” Sushma Swaraj tweeted.

“He informed me that he had applied for travel documents in London and UK government was prepared to give him the travel documents. However, they were restrained by a UPA Government communication that this will spoil Indo-UK relations,” she added.

“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,” said the minister.

“Keith Vaz also spoke to me and I told him precisely what I told the British High Commissioner,” she said.

Sushma Swaraj said: “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.”

She said that a few days after that, the Delhi High Court quashed an order by the erstwhile Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to impound Lalit Modi’s passport.

“I may also state that only 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,” she said.

The Enforcement Directorate has initiated proceedings against Lalit Modi and in March 2010, the Regional Passport Office in Mumbai had revoked his passport.

With regard to her nephew’s admission, she said: “Regarding Jyotirmay Kaushal’s admission in a law course at Sussex University, he secured admission through the normal admission process in 2013 – one year before I became a Minister.”

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh demanded Sushma Swaraj’s resignation “on moral grounds”.

“The minister backed a person like Lalit Modi, against whom a lookout notice was there. All this is very serious. The external affairs minister is supporting a person who is on the run,” he said.

Digvijaya Singh also demanded a clarification from Prime Minister Modi on the issue.

Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala said the incident exposed “a clear nexus between a money launderer and match-fixer” — referring to Lalit Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“I want to ask the prime minister, home minister and (BJP president) Amit Shah, if tomorrow Dawood wants help on humanitarian grounds, will they help,” he wondered.

He demanded her resignation on moral grounds and asked for an explanation from the government in the matter.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati said the issue would be raised in parliament when it meets next.

“We want this matter probed. We will raise it in parliament,” Mayawati said.

Earlier Report: