Congress, BJP spar over Modi's 'links' with alleged hawala kingpin

BJP sources said a party legislator from Gujarat had orginally posted the photograph on Twitter.

Surjewala said the Enforcement Directorate had March 22 raided the house and office of the said "kingpin", reportedly a diamond trader by profession, and claimed to have unearthed a hawala racket worth approximately Rs.700 crore.

"What is the nature of relationship of Narendra Modi with alleged hawala kingpin?" he asked, also demanding to know if pictures of the diamond trader on Modi's and BJP's website holding meetings in the Gujarat chief minister's office "reflect a proximate relationship that needs to be examined and investigated?"

Surjewala also alleged that the hawala racket being run by the "kingpin" had "deep underworld links".

"Does the complete complacency of Narendra Modi and his government to one of the biggest hawala rackets being run in Surat under their nose and eyes point towards their complicity or indifference in upholding the law and checking nefarious elements involved in anti-national activities?" he said.