NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who has been embroiled in the Lalit Modi controversy, gave media the slip after the NITI Aayog meeting here today.
Raje had earlier arrived at the NITI Aayog for meeting of sub-group of Chief Ministers on rationalisation of centrally-sponsored schemes. Even as the entire media was waiting at the gate from which she had had entered, Vasundhara Raje's cavalcade left from the rear gate. Besides Raje, the meeting was also attended by the Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Nagaland, among others.
Even as opposition gunned for her resignation over the controversy, the Rajasthan BJP unit had rejected all the allegations against her yesterday saying that the document she signed in support of Lalit Modi's immigration application to the UK government was never produced in court as she had backed out of it later. The state unit of the party also claimed that Modi's investment in the chain of hotels owned by her son was legal and had been disclosed to authorities.
The top leadership of the party is learnt to have accepted Raje's defence as Prime Minister Narendra Modi met BJP chief Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday over the issue. Congress has accused Raje of quid pro quo in helping Lalit and launched a relentless attack on her, demanding her resignation.
Raje has maintained silence over the raging row even though her office has termed the allegations "untrue", while BJP has said it "fully supports" her. Raje was scheduled to visit London from June 27 to July 2 but cancelled her UK tour early this week in view of the NITI Aayog meet.