Priyanka has not had a meeting with Lalit Modi: Priyanka's office

New Delhi, Jun 26: Priyanka Gandhi's office today said she has "not had a meeting, even socially" with former IPL chief Lalit Modi whose claim that he had "run into" her and her husband Robert Vadra in London triggered a political row.

"Priyanka ji has not had a meeting with Mr Lalit Modi, not even socially," her office said.

The clarification came in the midst of a fresh war of words between BJP and Congress over Lalit Modi's tweets in the escalating row over the help rendered to the tainted former IPL boss by two leaders of the saffron party.

BJP alleged links between Lalit Modi and the Gandhi family while the Congress said it was a case of 'chhota Modi' helping 'bada Modi' (Narendra Modi) with lies".

Lalit Modi had last night tweeted, "Happy to meet the Gandhi family...in London. I had run into Robert and Priyanka separately in a restaurant".

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said,"Today's big revelation is the fact that Lalit Modi had met the Gandhi family. Only yesterday he met Priyanka Gandhi and Robert Vadra. Why have they met him?

"Let me categorically put today that the issue is about Lalit Modi and Gandhi family... BJP demands Sonia Gandhi make a statement why the Gandhi family has been in touch with Lalit Modi all these years."

Rejecting the allegation, Congress chief spokesperson Randip Surjewala said, "Looking into each other is neither improper nor a crime by any strength of imagination. There was no social interaction of any nature between Lalit Modi and Robert Vadra or Priyanka Gandhi."

Senior leader and party spokesperson CP Joshi wondered what was there to clarify when the ex-IPL chief had himself said that he had run into Robert and Priyanka.

"This is not allegation. You are taking inference out of it. What is to clarify when Lalit Modi has already clarified. It is a coincidence. What can anybody do if some one appears before some one in a restaurant," Joshi said.

PTI