Tharoor meets Sonia, Pranab, Antony over IPL row (Lead)
April 15th, 2010 - 9:23 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, April 15 (IANS) Under fire for his alleged involvement in the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise affairs, Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor Thursday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and again senior cabinet ministers Pranab Mukherjee and A.K. Antony.
The meetings with Gandhi and the ministers came against the backdrop of opposition demands for Tharoor’s scalp following allegations that he had misused his official position to help his friend Sunanda Pushkar to get sweat equity worth Rs.70 crore in the IPL Kochi franchise.
Tharoor’s meeting with Gandhi was brief, a source privy to the development said as the Congress refused to speak officially about the meeting.
Tharoor is said to have explained to the Congress president his side of the story, which started with media reports that the minister may be marrying Pushkar, who is member of Rendezvous Sports World - a part of a consortium that won the Kochi franchise.
Tharoor earlier met Mukherjee and Antony. The meeting lasted 30 minutes. He had met the two senior Congress leaders Wednesday night too.
However, the issue did not find a mention in parliament Thursday.
Earlier in the day, Tharoor ducked questions from inquisitive media persons in parliament.
As he left Parliament House in the morning, Tharoor found himself almost mobbed by journalists and photographers. The journalists bombarded him with questions - all related to the IPL row and if his party was supporting him.
Otherwise media-friendly, Tharoor remained mum. He got into his official vehicle without answering any questions or even smiling at the media.
The controversy emerged after IPL commissioner Lalit Modi Sunday alleged that Tharoor had told him not to reveal the ownership pattern of the IPL Kochi franchise. Pushkar has denied the allegation that she was acting as a proxy for Tharoor in the franchise deal said Tharoor was simply trying to help Kerala get an IPL team.
- Tharoor visits parliament, likely to speak Tuesday (Lead) - Apr 19, 2010
- Tharoor meets Pranab, Antony over IPL row - Apr 15, 2010
- Tharoor's fate uncertain, Pushkar gives up IPL stake (Intro Roundup) - Apr 18, 2010
- Tharoor meets Congress top brass - Apr 19, 2010
- Mired in IPL row, Tharoor meets Pranab, Antony - Apr 15, 2010
- Tharoor's fate hinges on PM; party not in mood to defend him - Apr 17, 2010
- I want to keep myself clear of IPL: Tharoor - Apr 20, 2011
- Terminated Kochi Tuskers seek Kerala chief minister's help - Feb 02, 2012
- Sonia to meet PM Sunday on Tharoor controversy - Apr 17, 2010
- Tharoor meets PM, reported to have offered to resign - Apr 18, 2010
- Mired in IPL row, Shashi Tharoor steps down - Apr 19, 2010
- Tharoor's fate uncertain, Pushkar gives up IPL stake (Roundup) - Apr 18, 2010
- Tharoor calls on PM - Apr 18, 2010
- Modi-Tharoor IPL row snowballs, BJP wants Tharoor sacked (Roundup) - Apr 13, 2010
- Tharoor's meeting with PM over - Apr 18, 2010
Tags: affairs minister, allegation, antony, cabinet ministers, congress leaders, congress president sonia gandhi, crore, external affairs, franchise deal, lalit, media persons, minister of state, opposition demands, parliament house, pranab mukherjee, privy, pushkar, sports world, sweat equity, worth rs