Shiv Sena targets Centre over Mallya leaving country

Mumbai: Flaying the Centre over beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya leaving India in the middle of a massive loan default probe, NDA constituent Shiv Sena on Friday said those who raised hue and cry over former IPL chairman Lalit Modi "fleeing" the country should now answer how the liquor baron did so.

While poor farmers are driven to commit suicide when they fail to pay off loans obtained by staking their homes and holdings for small loans ranging from Rs 25,000-50,000, the laws do not seem to apply to Modi and Mallya, Sena said.

"It seems that laws do not apply to Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya. Ruining the economy of the country is also a kind of terrorism and such people are traitors," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.

Even a child would understand that Mallya would eventually leave the country, but it was surprising that the government did not anticipate it, the ruling alliance partner said.

"Vijay Mallya was given loans during the UPA government's tenure while he left the country during the NDA's tenure.

Politicians have been close to him. Mallya has given his services to people from a vast number of fields.  "Since he has given services to many, some allowed him to take loans, while others let the money drown. Then there are some who let him leave the country. People who were making a hue and cry over Lalit Modi leaving the country should now answer how did he do so," the Sena said.

A political slugfest has erupted over Mallya leaving India in the middle of a massive loan default probe with Rahul Gandhi accusing the government of "helping" him, a charge rejected by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who raked up the Bofors case to remind him of Ottavio Quattrocchi's escape during Congress rule.

However, the beleaguered businessman, who is facing legal proceedings for alleged loan defaults by his group to the tune of over Rs 9,000 crore, said he is not an absconder and will comply with the law of the land.