NEW DELHI:With political temperature rising in Rajasthan over Lalit Modi controversy, the state BJP unit trashed reports of Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje marshalling her MLAs as show of strength. The party supported Raje saying the allegations against her were baseless and part of political vendetta.
Rajasthan BJP chief Ashok Parnami held a press conference in Jaipur to strongly defend the chief minister.
“All allegations against Raje are baseless. By levelling such allegations, Congress is indulging political vendetta against her and targeting decades-old family relations between her and Lalit Modi,” Parnami said.
Parnami defending Raje saying though signature on the controversial ‘affidavit’ in support of Lalit Modi were hers but the document was never presented before a court neither did Raje deposed in his favour.
“The Chief Minister has not appeared before any court or given any affidavit. The statement is not addressed to any court (in UK),” he insisted. Parnami also charged that Congress has no moral right to demand Raje’s resignation.
“With what face (former Congress CM) Ashok Gehlot is demanding the resignation of CM Vasundhara Raje when he did not resign on the corruption charges levelled by his own MLAs and rape cases in which his two ministers and MLA were allegedly involved”, Parnami said in a statement.
“Gehlot’s son Vaibha Gehlot sold out Rs 100 share to a Mauritius-based company at Rs 40,000. Gehlot has also allocated prime located valuable mines to his relatives. When these matters were exposed, how come Gehlot did not tender his resignation on these matters”, Parnami alleged.
Raje’s office again issued a statement on Friday dismissing reports that she had initiated a signature campaign by collecting 120 party MLAs in her support.
Bracing the wave
The BJP also dismissed Congress charge that there was some quid pro quo in signing of MOU between the state government with Portugal cancer hospital.
Congress had charged that the deal was signed as Lalit Modi’s wife was treated at the same cancer hospital in Portugal.
“That foundation is known for its top class cancer research facility. The MoU would vastly help the people of Rajasthan and the state would have benefited by world class technology,” BJP’s national secretary said in Delhi.