New Delhi: The Lalit Modi controversy involving top saffron leaders is simply refusing to die. In a fresh twist Tuesday, some television channels revealed that Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had in August 2011 backed the former IPL chief’s UK immigration application on the condition that her support not be made known to Indian authorities.
The witness statement reportedly made by Ms Raje begins with the disclaimer that her support to Lalit Modi’s application not be made public to the Indian authorities. The documents were reportedly released by Lalit Modi’s PR team to some television channels.
While the controversy snowballs, with Ms Raje’s name surfacing on Tuesday, the Prime Minister’s Office continues to maintain a stoic silence.
Earlier on Tuesday, Ms Swaraj went about her ministerial job as usual, flagging off the first batch of pilgrims for the Kailash Mansarovar yatra in Tibet through a new route via Nathu-La in Sikkim. The Congress, pouncing at the new developments in the Lalit Modi affair, has now demanded the sacking of both Ms Raje and Ms Swaraj.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi continued his attack on Prime Minister Modi, saying he was trying to “rescue” Lalit Modi, who he described as a “man of black money”. He made light of Mr Jaitley’s defence of Ms Swaraj, saying: “If he does not defend (her), then who will do it?”
Late on Tuesday evening, Ms Raje distanced herself from the document in question, saying: “I do not know what documents they are talking about.” When asked if she was being subjected to a media trial, the Rajashtan Chief Minister said: “It is left to you to decide.”
