Thaindian News

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.