Khurana retracts on his allegation of Sushma's links with Dawood

New Delhi, July 13 (UNI) In the wake of the sharp response from Ms Sushma Swaraj over his allegations of her having links with Dawood Ibrahim, former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana today said he never said the BJP leader had ''direct links'' with the underworld don.

Addressing mediapersons Mr Khurana said what he had said was that Congress leader Romesh Sharma had links with Dawood and Ms Swaraj had relations with Romesh.

''My statements are twisted by the media to suit their tastes.

What I wanted to say was that she had indirect links with the underworld don.'' On being asked how he could certify that Ms Sushma had links with Dawood on the basis of Mr Sharma having links with the don and her, the former Delhi CM said he wanted the 'White Paper', which was prepared on Romesh's underworld links after his arrest and the eleven FIRs prepared but not registered, to be made public.

''In that the name of Sushma Swaraj has been mentioned,'' he said.

Had that White Paper, in which names of several people working for the ISI was mentioned, come out, the Mumbai blasts would have been prevented, he added.

Mr Khurana also said he had heard the tapes of conversation between Dawood and Mr Sharma where he asks for more money from the don for fighting Delhi Assembly elections.

''It was because of Romesh Sharma that Sushma was made the Chief Ministerial candidate replacing me.'' On July 11 Mr Khurana had alleged that senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj had links with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and that he had asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to order a probe into the issue, while asserting that he had documentary evidence to support his claim.

Following this, Ms Swaraj had threatened to sue Mr Khurana on the ''baseless allegation''.

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