Dismissing BJP’s denials, Congress on Tuesday persisted with its demand for the sacking of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, saying there was a “criminal nexus” between her family and former IPL boss Lalit Modi.
“There has been a criminal nexus between Lalit Modi and the Vasundhara Raje family,” party leader Jairam Ramesh told reporters in New Delhi.
Declaring that Congress will not stop disclosures in the till a “closure” is done by the BJP by removing Ms. Raje, Mr. Ramesh released some fresh documents including one of 1949 which showed that the Dholpur Palace was owned by the Rajasthan Government. For the second consecutive day, Mr. Ramesh accused her of “forcible, illegal occupation” of the Dholpur Palace along with Lalit Modi through a private company.
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Mr. Ramesh said that the party has also not forgotten the case of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who had helped Lalit Modi with travel documents. “We have not forgotten about the Videsh Mantri. Closure and disclosure in her case is yet to come”, he said. Taking a dig at Ms. Swaraj, he said, “Lalit Modi was helped on ‘humanitarian grounds,’ grounds like hanging out with Naomi Campbell.”
Insisting that the compromise between Hemant Singh, estranged husband of Mr. Raje and son Dushyant Singh was only for movable property, he claimed that despite much evidence produced by him, the BJP is trying to justify ownership of the property with Dushyant Singh with “lame duck” arguments.
He said that the compromise was brought about in 2007 by the additional dist. Judge of Bharatpur in a case titled ‘Dushyant vs. Hemant Singh.’ He alleged that despite the palace and the land surrounding belonging to Rajasthan government, Dushyant Singh received a compensation of nearly Rs. 2 crore from the NHAI for a 500 metre piece of land due to “nexus” between him and the Land Acquisition officer.
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“He (Dushyant Singh ) got a compensation of Rs. 2 crore, and that is a scam which needs to be investigated”, he demanded. Mr. Ramesh said that government and BJP are making in vain attempts to disprove the “unholy nexus” between Ms. Raje and Lalit Modi, their co-ownership of Niyant Heritage Hotel and “patent illegal usurpation” of a government property for construction of a high end luxury hotel.
Congress has been demanding resignations of Ms. Swaraj and Ms. Raje over Lalit Modi controversy, and of HRD Minister Smriti Irani over misrepresenting facts about her educational qualification in separate election affidavits and of Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde for her alleged involvement in a “scam” by clearing purchases worth Rs. 206 crore on a single day instead of inviting tenders in violation of the norms.