Jaitley Colluded With Mallya to Help Him Escape: Rahul Gandhi

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September 13, 2018: Addressing a press conference on Thursday, 13 September, Congress President Rahul Gandhi reiterated his demand for Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s resignation over his alleged “collusion” with fugitive liquor baron Viajy Mallya.

 

Mallya had on 12 September said that he met Arun Jaitley right before leaving for London.

Gandhi called the issue an “open and shut case”, alleging an under-the-table deal between the government and Mallya.

"“It is an open and shut case – an economic offender, before running away to London speaks to the Finance Minister at the Parliament House. The Finance Minister then lies and says ‘he caught me in the corridor and told me he was going to London.’ If he did say so, the Minister should have told the agencies. There has been some deal.” " - Rahul Gandhi

Meanwhile, the finance minister, had dismissed Mallya’s claim as “false”.

As soon as Jaitley rubbished Mallya’s claim, the fugitive liquor baron seemingly toned down his comment. He said that it wasn’t a formal meeting – he had only met Jaitley in the Parliament.

But his so-called clarification didn’t do anything to placate the Congress which attacked the finance minister all guns blazing. Leaders from other political parties joined the chorus.

I Saw Mallya and Jaitley Meet: PL Punia

Also at the press conference, Congress national spokesperson PL Punia alleged that he personally witnessed Mallya and Jaitley speak at the Parliament House in 2016.

“I saw Mally and Jaitley meet. It was Mallya’s first parliament session. A few days later, we found out that he had left the country”, he said, adding that Jaitley had concealed this fact for the longest time.

On Wednesday, Gandhi had called Mallya’s claims “extremely serious allegations”. The Congress President went on to demand Jaitley’s resignation.

Congress Launches Scathing Attack

Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi also launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Jaitley. He demanded a thorough inquiry into Mallya’s claim.

“Everybody was complacent and everybody was aware, whether it was a casual meeting or a structured meeting. We need proper disclosures, full inquiries on this,” Singhvi told PTI.

In a swipe at the government’s ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’ slogan, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the BJP’s sole aim now was bhagode ka saath, lootero ka vikas’ (helping absconders and enriching looters).

Another Congress leader, Anand Sharma, questioned why the finance minister didn’t disclose the information the government had on Mallya during his speeches in Parliament.

"“Vijay Mallya has run away after looting money from banks and the government had this information. So, when finance minister gave statements in Parliament on Vijay Mallya issue, he should have mentioned about this meeting with Mallya.”" - Anand Sharma

What Transpired in These Meetings, Asks Kejriwal

On Twitter, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for having allegedly met Nirav Modi before he left the country and the finance minister has met Mallya.

Kejriwal also retweeted an old tweet (from 12 June 2018) by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy.

Swamy in his tweet back then had asked how could Mallya escape the country despite a Look Out Notice (LON) against him. He further questioned the dilution of the LON by someone.

Even former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha raised questions against the entire BJP leadership and said that they must come clean on their ties with the embattled liquor tycoon.

CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury also claimed that all those who ‘looted public money’ and left the country, have left with the knowledge of the government.

"“They (government) have to own up to the fact that they allowed this loot to happen and the fact that they are allowing this loot to happen.”" - Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary, CPI (M) Congress’ KBC Question!

Taking a dig at the BJP and Jaitley, Congress, in a sarcastic tweet, put out a question in the Kaun Banega Crorepati format asking – “Who helped Vijay Mallya in escaping India?” All the four answers pointing fingers at the finance minister.

The BJP is yet to respond to these allegations.

Courtesy: The Quint