Union HRD Minister, Smriti Irani, on Thursday defended her cabinet colleague and the Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, describing the allegations of corruption against the latter as ‘blasphemous and preposterous.’
A visibly angry Irani warned that people must not use their right to freedom of speech was in no way an indication of freedom to create anarchy adding that the BJP and the central government “resolutely stands behind” the finance minister who has an “impeccable” political record.
Quoting from Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) probe into DDCA affairs done during the UPA tenure to claim that it had given Jaitley a clean chit, Irani said, “It is observed during the period under inspection that Arun Jaitley is the DDCA president presiding over (its) meetings like a non-executive chairman without involvement in the day to day affair of the company. No incidents of fraud has been noticed during the course of investigation.”
She told reporters, “Today, BJP resolutesly stands behind Arun Jaitley and publicly condemns the malicious intent of the Aam Aadmi Party to dflect public attention from a corrupt officer workinfg with Arvind Kejriwal.”
Irani’s defence came minutes after the AAP leaders told media about Jaitley’s involvement in serious corruption while heading Delhi District Cricket Association.