A major controversy developed on Wednesday over MPs writing to US President Barack Obama seeking denial of a visa to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi over his alleged role in the 2002 communal carnage in the state.
The first to deny signing the controversial letter was CPI(M) MP Sitaram Yechury, who was followed by DMK MP K.P. Ramalingam, M.P. Achutan of the CPI and Vandana Chauhan and Sanjeev Naik of the NCP.
While these MPs denied having signed any such letter, BJP MP Sudarshan Bhagat urged Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar to probe the alleged forgery of the MPs’ signatures. BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar claimed that the Congress’ “dirty tricks department” was behind the “entire forgery”.
The Congress Party, however, tried to distance itself from the entire controversy, saying that the “nation was bigger than politics”. The party also rubbished the BJP’s allegations that the party was behind forging signatures. “Nothing has been discussed. We do not know what individuals are doing. The issue has not been discussed in any fora of the party, nor that of Parliament. It is a non-issue for us”, said Congress spokesman Raj Babbar.
Mr Babbar also expressed disapproval of MPs writing such a letter, saying the “nation is bigger than politics”.
While Mr Yechury denied having signed such a letter, Independent MP Mohammad Adeeb, who took the initiative for the campaign, claimed: “Sitaram Yechury personally signed the letter in the Rajya Sabha in front of me with his pen. I am ready to face any inquiry and any investigation into this matter.”
Mr Yechury, however, stuck to his denial and issued a statement saying: “I don’t remember having signed any such letter. It suggests some cut-and-paste job. I deny having signed any such letter. It is neither in my character nor in the principles of my party to petition any sovereign country on matters that fall strictly within the sovereign domain of that country.” The statement added: “It is this very principle that leads us to
strongly oppose and denounce any external interference into India’s internal affairs undermining its sovereignty.”
There was some confusion over the denial of DMK MP K.P. Ramalingam. He claimed he could not have signed it since he always signed in Tamil. He seemed to have no answer when told that his alleged signature on the letter was also in Tamil. M.P. Achutan, a Rajya Sabha member from Kerala, also denied writing to Mr Obama. “To be frank, I don’t remember writing to Obama,” he said.
Speaking to the media, Mr Yechury noted that the entire controversy had “taken place in cyberspace”. He said: “This one was circulating in cyberspace... months after it was typed on the letterhead of a Member of Parliament
which carries the insignia of our national symbol, the Ashok Chakra.” He then argued: “The heading under which some signatures are appended says ‘Names and Signatures of Indian MPs’. Strange. Which other country’s MPs would sign on the letterhead of the
Indian Parliament? This itself suggests some efforts at cut and paste.”
The Independent MP, however, stuck to his claim and said: “Yechury should have contacted me and asked me what is the problem. Then he has gone to the media is
hurting...” He maintained that Mr Yechury “signed on the paper with the whole substance enclosed”.
It was earlier learnt that 40 members of the Lok Sabha and 25 Rajya Sabha members had reportedly signed the
letter to the US President. BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted that these MPs were “making the US a third umpire in the issue”. AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh was dismissive of the entire issue, saying: “It is for the US to decide. We have nothing to do with it.”