Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje under pressure to quit, remains defiant

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje continued to be under pressure on Thursday to step down over the Lalit Modi controversy but gave no indication of yielding even as the Congress threatened to disrupt Parliament over the issue.

Seeking to put a lid on speculation that she has been asked to quit, Raje's office termed it as "untrue" while complaining about "unsubstantiated media reports." The CMO came out with two statements denying media reports and dismissing speculation that she had convened a meeting of BJP MLAs to put pressure on the party leadership to desist taking action against her. However, the statement makes no mention of the raging controversy that has engulfed Raje over a witness statement she purportedly provided in 2011 to Lalit Modi, former IPL chairman, who is wanted in India to answer grave charges of financial crimes.

Adding to her woes, a picture of then BJP president Nitin Gadkari, Raje and HRD Minister Smriti Irani at a dinner in London on July 20, 2011 surfaced today. The picture was taken a month before she allegedly signed the statement in August 2011, supporting Lalit Modi's immigration appeal.

She was part of BJP delegation to London organised by the Overseas Friends of the BJP, which helps popularize the party abroad and mobilizes support among NRIs. Raje is reported to have stayed back in London to assist the former IPL chief. The Chief Minister's office targeted the media for "false" reports being run on the basis of "rumours" to tarnish her image and cause "political damage". 

Seeking to drive home its point, the CMO cited certain TV news headlines like '110 MLAs come in support of Raje' and 'resignation sought from Vasundhara, she says I will not tender resignation'. It also referred to news items like 'If I am removed, the party would come in a great problem: Vasundhara' and 'BJP can divide if Vasundhra goes'. The statement also talked about reports like 'MLAs and ministers are gathering at CM residence', 'CM is going to Delhi' and 'Rajendra Rathore, Medical and Health Minister, is going to Delhi'.

    "These are untrue. Every such news be verified, cross checked and confirmed," it said.  Sharpening its attack on BJP over the issue of help extended to Lalit Modi, Congress said the party should ask Raje to step down as it can no longer "continue to defend the indefensible". Dismissing as being "lame" BJP's claim that the signatures in the said document are forged, Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot said, "I don't think it is possible for anyone to put up that lame an argument... And, if she had to deny the signatures, she should have done it perhaps in the beginning.

Putting up a brave front, BJP claimed that the details of the matter involving her help to Lalit Modi were yet not clear and nor was the authenticity of the documents carrying her purported signature. "What is the impropriety in the case of Raje? These are only some documents. Their authenticity is yet to be proved. Did she testify before any court and before a judge? Has the UK government said anything?" party spokesperson Sambit Patra said in her defence.