New Delhi: In a first voice of dissent within the Bharatiya Janata Party, former home secretary and party MP RK Singh hit out at those who have helped former Indian Premier League chief Lalit Modi saying "no one should help an absconder like Lalit Modi".
Speaking exclusively to CNN-IBN, Singh said, "Lalit Modi is an absconder and no one should help him. The government should file a case to revoke his passport. It is wrong on the part of others to help him. He should immediately be brought back, he's an offender. He should be ready to face law."
The remarks came at a time when his party leaders - External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje are embroiled in a controversy involving Modi and the party has been making efforts to defend them.
Sushma stirred a controversy after she admitted that she had no objection to Modi's request to travel out of the UK for his wife's treatment and spoke in this regard with British MP Keith Vaz and British High Commissioner.
Vasundhara came under fire after it was revealed that she allegedly helped Modi get permit to stay in the UK. She had allegedly filed application backing Modi in 2011 when she was the leader of the opposition in the state Assembly.
Hitting out at Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria for meeting Modi in London, Singh said, "Rakesh Maria should not have helped or met Lalit Modi. He cannot travel abroad without government's permission on papers. You can't just go on a trip and say it is an official duty, unless investigation or warrant basis."
When asked whether he came across any case against Modi during his stint as home secretary, Singh denied it. He said, "When I was joint secretary of Home Affairs, I came across a lottery case involving Lalit Modi and a lot of irregularities had been committed. So, the ministry cancelled that lottery."
Backing Singh, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said, "BJP's RK Singh may be the first to say it but many other BJP leaders may also find it wrong to defend Raje. I am sure there are several others like RK Singh ji in BJP party who are of the same view."
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