The Congress on Friday questioned the "silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union finance minister Arun Jaitley on the charge by its leader P L Punia that businessman Vijay Mallya met Jaitley in Parliament before leaving India and claimed it indicates admission of guilt.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi targeted Modi alleging that there was a change in look-out notice against Mallya by the CBI "which was inconceivable without the approval of the PM" as the agency reports to him.

The opposition charged the prime minister and the finance minister with "helping" Mallya flee the country and said, "the nation wants to know who is the chief architect, protector and benefactor in Vijay Mallya's escape?"

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the prime minister and the finance minister have not rebutted or confirmed the charge made by Punia that he had witnessed Jaitley and Mallya in a huddle in the central hall of Parliament on March 1, 2016.

"Despite the revelation about a meeting between the Rs 9000 crore bank scam offender and Arun Jaitley on March 1, 2016, the prime minister and his finance minister have maintained a conspiratorial silence

"Is this silence an admission of guilt by PM Modi and FM Jaitley?," he asked and demanded that the finance minister and the consortium of banks led by SBI and CBI/SFIO answer the issues which are important to the nation.

Claiming that Jaitley has lost legal, ethical and moral right to continue as minister, he said the finance minister should resign "as his silence is pointing towards admission of guilt".

"Why is the PM afraid to conduct a fair investigation in this matter? "If the prime minister does not act, it will be proved that the 'chowkidaar' (watchman) is not just a 'Bhaagidaar' (partner) but is guilty of protecting the criminal."

First Published:Sept 14, 2018 10:35 PM IST