Lalit Modi row, govt ready to discuss anything in par: Gowda

Hitting out at Congress for threatening logjam in parliament in the monsoon session on the Lalit Modi row, Union Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda today accused the party of raising a "silly" issue but said government was willing to discuss "everything and anything" on the floor of the House.

As Congress continued its aggressive pitch for the exit of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, he said "let them study each and every thing. We are ready to discuss every thing and anything on the floor of the House. Simply threatening something- it doesn't look nice."

Seeking to turn the tables on Congress, he said "let them look into the matter, some personal transactions. How can you treat it as a corrupt practice? If at all these things have happened, what prevented them from taking action in last four years?" he said.

Gowda was responding to a question on Congress' threat to disrupt the monsoon session of parliament if the External Affairs Minister and the Rajasthan Chief Minister did not resign. Swaraj is facing the heat for her help to tainted Modi get British travel documents and Raje for her "secret" witness statement supporting the former IPL boss' immigration plea in Britain.

Taking its attack to a new level yesterday, Congress had alleged a nexus between Lalit Modi, the Prime Minister, the BJP President, Swaraj and Raje and said the only way for the government to "save" itself and the parliament session is to make the two women leaders resign from their positions.

Gowda also slammed Congress of raking up a "silly" issue as "they don't have anything to criticise the government."

"Now just because they are not getting anything to stage their agitations (against government) they are talking all these silly issues. Personal matters how they can bring it....." he said
Asked whether BJP will defend its leaders in Parliament, Gowda said "that my party will decide."