Fresh document shows Vasundhara Raje backed Lalit Modi, Opposition slams BJP
New Delhi: Pressure mounted for the ouster of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje after emergence of a document purportedly carrying her signature to back Lalit Modi's immigration application in the UK, with Congress saying she stood "exposed completely" while batting for a "fugitive".
Stepping up the offensive against Raje, who had claimed she did not recall having signed such a document, Congress accused her of "repeatedly lying" and demanded her immediate resignation.
"The curtains are off, the secret is out. The document signed by Vasundhara Raje dated August 18, 2011 supporting his immigration case before the British government is out. When the issue came out first, she feigned ignorance and then said she does not remember," senior party leader Jairam Ramesh told reporters at the AICC briefing.
Read: Lalit Modi exposes Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje as saviour
Raje was alleged to have agreed to become a witness to the former IPL Czar's immigration application provided it was kept a secret in India.
"BJP has always maintained that if papers are produced with her signature, then she is culpable. There is no need of anymore evidence, Vasundhara Raje stands thoroughly exposed," Ramesh said.
Ramesh said the Congress seeks her immediate resignation as she has broken four laws - Indian Penal Code, Prevention of Corruption Act, PMLA, Passport Act, while batting for a "bhagora" (fugitive).
Read: Helping Lalit Modi is legally, morally wrong: BJP MP R K Singh
Displaying the seven-page document having 21 points, he said, "This has never happened in independent India before where a former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition has batted for a fugitive".
"The Prime Minister who is a self declared champion of transparency, self appointed champion of accountability, the man who could not stop talking a year ago on any issue, what does he have to say on this? He has got the clinching evidence. He has got the smoking gun.
"It is not a fake signature. It’s a real signature. The Rajasthan CM has told the UK government that an absconder fugitive, law breaker should be allowed to stay there. I find this bizarre and indefensible and anti-national," Ramesh said.
Noting that the word fugitive is not his but of former Home Secretary and BJP MP R K Singh, Ramesh said that it has been proved that the documents which she (Raje) had denied earlier are now in front of the people of the country and there is no need for any other statements or investigation.
"I want to tell BJP president Amit Shah that the signature on the documents is not a fake. There is only one option in front of the Prime Minister...Rajasthan Chief Minister should resign immediately," Ramesh said.
He said that the question is not whether she will resign but "when will she resign - tonight or tomorrow morning".
