Lalit Modi controversy: BJP's Rajasthan unit backs Vasundhara Raje, son

Jaipur: The Rajasthan unit of the BJP on Friday came out strongly in support of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and her son Dushyant Singh. [caption id=“attachment_2303602” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Vasundhara Raje. Reuters[/caption] The opposition, mainly the Congress, was engaging into a false propaganda, Bharatiya Janata Party state unit chief Ashok Parnami said at a press conference here. “Why these things are being raised before Bihar elections?” he asked. “They are unnecessarily trying to tarnish the image of Raje and Dushyant.” Parnami said misconceptions were being spread on a legal business transaction. He said Dushyant Singh’s firm has not done anything illegal. Dushyant is a BJP MP from Jhalawar-Baran constituency in Rajasthan. “All transactions are as per law and the company has filed Income Tax returns regularly,” Parnami said while defending Dushyant Singh. He said: “It was purely a business dealing between Dushyant and Lalit Modi.” “Moreover, all the details of the share transaction are in the company’s balance sheet,” he added. He also presented the company’s balance sheets, audit report and some other documents in support of his statements. Parnami said: “If there was something wrong, then why the Congress, when they were a ruling party both at the Centre and in the state, did not launch a probe at that time?” “This clearly shows that Congress is raising baseless allegations and is engaging in petty politics,” said Parnami. Rajasthan Health Minister Rajendra Rathore, who also attended the press conference, said all the legislators and some Independents are fully supporting Raje. “We all (legislature party), central leadership and some independents are behind her,” Rathore said. Rathore also hit back at former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his son Vaibhav Gehlot. “It is no secret how Vaibhav was deep in corruption in a hotel case. Ashok Gehlot as a chief minister tried to benefit his son,” he alleged. The Rajasthan chief minister is embroiled in a controversy over allegations that she testified in favour of former IPL chief Lalit Modi’s British immigration application in 2011 and Modi made investments in her son’s company. IANS