BJP still doubts signed documents showing Vasundhara Raje backed Lalit Modi
New Delhi: With “signed” documents of Vasundhara Raje (dated August 18, 2011) supporting Lalit Modi’s immigration case before the British government released by the Congress, it sought her immediate resignation for “repeatedly lying” over the issue.
The BJP, however, said the “document’s authenticity can be proved only by the person in question”. BJP Rajasthan unit chief Ashok Parnami said the Congress had made many efforts to malign Ms Raje’s image, and declared that Ms Raje will not resign and that all party MLAs were backing her.
“The BJP had always maintained that if papers are produced with her signature, then she is culpable. There is no need of any more evidence,” senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said.
External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, who too is under the scanner over the Lalit Modi issue, left for Kathmandu on Wednesday. Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, who had on Tuesday clarified his stand on the Lalit Modi controversy, said on Wednesday that the government “will play by the rulebook”. He said, “The government will play by the rulebook and we will make sure that absolute standards of probity are maintained.”
Incidentally the Modi government and the BJP are “scared” that if they moved against the Rajasthan CM, she “will split the party in the state”. At this juncture there seems to be no BJP leader “who can stand up to her in the state”, a senior BJP leader said. Also, if the party takes action against Ms Raje, it will also have to move against both Ms Swaraj and Smriti Irani.
At the party headquarters, a handful spokespersons have been asked to go on defending the controversial ministers. He said Ms Raje “stands thoroughly exposed” and sought her resignation for breaking four laws - the Indian Penal Code, Prevention of Corruption Act, PMLA and the Passport Act.
Mr Ramesh said Ms Raje’s resignation should be followed by the resignation of external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and HRD minister Smriti Irani.
