In a development that might surprise political circles, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has come out in support of tainted IPL commissioner Lalit Modi.
“Lalit Modi is being made a scapegoat to save some ministers and other higher-ups in the government,” SP general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Ram Gopal Yadav told reporters in Etawah on Thursday. “Lalit Modi should be getting credit for giving opportunity to hidden talent whom no one had cared for.”
In Lucknow, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said it was not justified to initiate any punitive action against Modi unless the inquiry into charges against him is completed. “Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee has said in parliament that a thorough inquiry would be done. So we should wait for the inquiry to be completed,” he told reporters.
Mulayam parried other questions on the issue, and sounded non-committal when asked to specify his party’s stand on the matter. “Let’s wait for the inquiry report… we will speak about it then,” was all he would say.
Though no one here seems to know the SP or Mulayam’s connection with Modi, the party chief’s unwillingness to speak out on the IPL mess is being seen as support for a cornered Modi.
