The monsoon session of Parliament headed for an acrimonious close when external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, whose resignation was sought by the Congress as a precondition for functioning of the House, tore into Sonia and Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, saying they should first explain why the late Rajiv Gandhi helped Bofors scandal accused Ottavio Quattrocchi and Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson flee the country.

Allowed by the Lok Sabha Speaker to respond to allegations of helping Lalit Modi despite Congress protests, Swaraj trained her guns on Rahul Gandhi who had accused her family of taking money from the former IPL chief. She said he should first ask his “mamma…how much money was taken from Quattrocchi” and “why did daddy allow the release of the killer of 15,000 people (the Bhopal gas leak victims)”.

Speaking over the din as Congress MPs protested in the well of the House, Swaraj claimed there was no quid pro quo in her case but there was quid pro quo — she even spelt it out — when Rajiv Gandhi helped Quattrocchi and Anderson. “Rahul should ask (his mother), why they did the quid pro quo.” As she went on, Sonia Gandhi listened in rapt attention.

Swaraj also targeted former Union minister P Chidambaram, saying he failed to bring back Lalit Modi from the UK because he did not seek his extradition, as suggested by the host government, and insisted on  deportation.

“For four years, you (Congress government) did nothing. You remained inactive. There was no effort for extradition. You are asking me how he (Lalit Modi) got right of residency (in UK). He got it during your time. Whatever happened, it was during your tenure,” she said.

Plainspeak:

Sushma Swaraj to Rahul Gandhi: Ask mamma (Sonia Gandhi) …how much money was taken from Quattrocchi. Why did daddy (Rajiv Gandhi) allow the release of the killer of 15,000 people (the Bhopal gas leak victims).

Sushma Swaraj to P chidambaram: For four years, you (Congress government) did nothing. You remained inactive. There was no effort for extradition. You are asking me how he (Lalit Modi) got right of residency (in UK). He got it during your time. Whatever happened, it was during your tenure.