Indian gov't turns down Congress demand for resignation of FM, 2 others

Indian government Monday turned down main opposition Congress party's demand for the resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and the chief ministers of two states over allegations of corruption and wrongdoing.

"The question of resignation does not arise. No one has done anything illegal or immoral," Indian Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu told the media in the national capital, a day ahead of the monsoon session of the Parliament.

He added, "There is no question of accepting any ultimatum from anybody. Nobody can dictate terms to Parliament. Parliament is sovereign. We are ready to discuss issues that the opposition wants to raise."

While the external affairs minister and the chief minister of the western state of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje were accused of helping a fugitive - Lalit Modi, former cricket boss involved in corruption, Chief Minister of the central state of Rajasthan Shivraj Singh Chauhan was accused of corruption.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister's remarks came a day after the Congress party said the running of the Parliament in the monsoon session and passage of important bills will be more easy if the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) takes action against Swaraj and the two chief ministers.

"The minimum action is removal all those, particularly the three, who are involved in Lalitgate, including Rajasthan Chief Minister, other MP and Union Minister and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister," Congress Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) Ghulam Nabi Azad said. Endi