Party, RSS back her but murmurs within

While the Congress party  alleged that an “internecine warfare” among top ministers, at least two BJP leaders, speaking on condition of anonymity, did not shy away from accepting that an internal feud was playing out in the open. “Support #SushmaSwaraj and stand with her against cartel of hate and falsehood,” BJP Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Vijay tweeted.

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When asked to elaborate on the “cartel”, Vijay replied with a curt “those who know, they know”. Within 20 minutes, he called back to clarify that he had meant “those who are the enemies of (Narendra) Modi”. “For over 10 years, lies have been spread against Modi in Gujarat. Now the media and the Congress are trying to create problems for him here,” he added.

Sensing the war within the party, the Congress went all out, with Randeep Surjewala saying, “What we have witnessed today involves blatant quid pro quo, direct help to a fugitive from law, internecine warfare between the top echelons of government and unravelling of the nexus between BJP leadership and its crony criminal friends.”
The government, the BJP and the RSS, meanwhile, ruled out Swaraj’s resignation, saying she had acted in a “humanitarian” manner and that no “moral issue” was involved.

“We want to make it clear that whatever she has done is right. A person with humanitarian perspective should take the same steps. We justify it and the government completely stands by her,” Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, following his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.

Asked about the Opposition seeking Swaraj’s resignation, Singh said, “I don’t agree.” The BJP also made its support to the minister clear. “Sushma ji has already made her stand clear via twitter. The matter is clear. An Indian national had asked Sushma ji for her help so that his wife could undergo treatment. Sushma ji talked to a British MP to request that the national be helped if Britain’s rules permit the same,” BJP president Amit Shah said.

“I cannot understand why such a big controversy is being created. This is not a matter of moral ground. This is not similar to (Ottavio) Quattrocchi or (Warren) Anderson being allowed to escape India,” he added. Shah was referring to the controversial Italian businessman linked to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and the late former Union Carbide chief who was allowed to leave India after the Bhopal gas tragedy in 1984 when Rajiv Gandhi was PM.

RSS leader Indresh Kumar, too, came out in Swaraj’s support. “Sushmaji is full of nationalism and humane nature. Whatever she might have done, would be guided by nationalism and humane nature,” Kumar said.