Signed docs show that Vasundhara Raje had backed Lalit Modi; she shoud resign: Congress

New Delhi: Seeking her immediate resignation, Congress on Wednesday stepped up the offensive against Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje accusing her of “repeatedly lying” on the Lalit Modi controversy. [caption id=“attachment_2310988” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Vasundhara Raje. Reuters[/caption] “The curtains are off, the secret is out. The document signed by Vasundhara Raje dated August 18, 2011 supporting his immigration case before the British government is out. When the issue came out first, she feigned ignorance and then said she does not remember,” senior party leader Jairam Ramesh told reporters at the AICC briefing. He was speaking after media reports showed a puportedly signed document by Raje in which she allegedly backed former IPL chief Lalit Modi’s immigration plea in Britain. “BJP has always maintained that if papers are produced with her signature, then she is culpable. There is no need of anymore evidence, Vasundhara Raje stands thoroughly exposed,” Ramesh said. “Documents show Raje had given statement backing Lalit Modi, the signature on the document is hers” he added. Ramesh said the Congress seeks her immediate resignation as she has broken four laws - Indian Penal Code, Prevention of Corruption Act, PMLA, Passport Act. “She should immediately resign. It should be followed by the resignation of Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and HRD Minister Smriti Irani,” he said. Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ramesh said he knows it will be “difficult” for him to seek resignation of three Ministers. Hitting out at the Prime Minister, Ramesh said, “The government which advocates propriety and zero tolerance to corruption should immediately seek her resignation. The Prime Minister who used to speak so much on these issues one year back has been silent and has gone into a shell”. Asked if he expects the BJP to sack the three leaders, he said it was not an opposition issue but an issue in which even the BJP leaders should demand so. However, he said that BJP is “brazen”. “BJP should be called Brazen Janata Party”. Ramesh said the demand for resignation of the three leaders is “non-negotiable”. After tonight, the continuation of Raje as Chief Minister of Rajasthan is"immoral", he said. Asked if the issue would be raised during the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, he said, “Our struggle will continue both inside and outside Parliament”. Displaying the seven-page document having 21 points, he said, “This has never happened in independent India before where a former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition has batted for a fugitive”. He underliend that the word fugitive has been used by none other than BJP MP and former Home Secretary R K Singh. “There is need for no more evidence. Raje stands exposed completely,” he said. “The Prime Minister who is a self declared champion of tranparency, self appointed champion of accountibility, the man who could not stop talking a year ago on any issue, what does he have to say on this? He has got the clinching evidence. He has got the smoking gun. “Its not a fake signature. Its a real signature. The Rajasthan CM has told the UK government that an absconder fugitive, law breaker should be allowed to stay there. I find this bizarre and indefensible and anti-national,” Ramesh said. Noting that the word fugitive is not his but of former Home Secretary and BJP MP R K Singh, Ramesh said that it has been proved that the documents which she (Raje) had denied earlier are now in front of the people of the country and there is no need for any other statements or investigation. “I want to tell BJP president Amit Shah that the signature on the documents is not a fake. There is only one option in front of the Prime Minister…Rajasthan Chief Minister should resign immediately,” Ramesh said. He said that the question is not whether she will resign but “when will she resign - tonight or tomorrow morning”. PTI