Left parties demand Shashi Tharoor's resignation

Left parties today demanded the resignation of Shashi Tharoor, saying it was "highly inappropriate" for a minister in the Union government to be involved in "murky dealings" with regard to IPL.

Noting that the IPL is not just a sporting event but a "big business enterprise in which big money is involved, the CPI(M) said it was "highly inappropriate for a minister in the Union government to be involved in such murky dealings".

Tharoor is battling allegations that a beautician romantically linked to him had received Rs70 crore free free equity in Kochi IPL team.

"It is incumbent upon Tharoor to step down from office till his name is cleared of any unethical or irregular behaviour," the party said in a statement here.

"The involvement of Tharoor in the IPL franchise for the Kochi team has raised a number of questions. It now transpires that a person associated with him has got 19% free equity worth Rs70 crore in the company that led the consortium which got the franchise," it said.

The CPI(M) also said the UPA government should also explain whether its ministers can be involved in business dealings in the name of IPL.

"The government should probe the source of certain funds flowing into the tournament and reconsider whether any tax exemptions or concessions are justified for this commercial enterprise," it added.

CPI national secretary D Raja also demanded Tharoor's designation saying his continuance in the government has become "untenable".

"There should be an enquiry into it. Tharoor should step down as his continuance has become untenable," Raja said.