BJP top brass desert Raje, may be forced out as CM

Unlike External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who was defended by almost all her  senior Cabinet colleagues, no one in the BJP has come out in Raje's support. 

According to sources, even in Thursday's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh suggested that let Raje explain her “closeness” with former IPL chairman Lalit Modi.

In a conversation with the PM, on the sidelines of a meeting on the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) held at the Prime Minister’s Office in South Block, Singh is believed to have discussed the controversy involving Swaraj and Raje.

The BJP's unwillingness to defend Raje became evident when Union Telecom and IT minister Ravi 

Shankar Prasad had on June 17 said: “As regards with the Rajasthan issue, the details have to be taken into account. I think Vasundharaji has spoken slightly yesterday (Tuesday), surely she will revert.”

There are allegations against Raje that is her son Dushyant Singh, an MP from Jhalawar, had reportedly received investment from Lalit Modi. Documents revealed that he had received nearly Rs 11.63 crore for a company that exists just on paper through the Mauritius route. Also, the case against Raje became stronger when the former IPL chief confessed that she had supported his application for immigration in Britain.

According to sources, Raje is desperate to meet BJP president Amit Shah and other senior party leadership for the past two days. However, sensing that this might weaken the party’s nationalistic stand, no senior leader is willing to meet Raje. However, Raje’s office has claimed that the Rajasthan Chief Minister had neither sought an appointment with <g data-gr-id="44">Shah,</g> nor she been denied a meeting. 

A statement issued from Raje’s office reads: “A few news channels telecast that Raje desired an appointment from Shah, but she was denied a meeting, which is untrue.” Also, her office has refuted reports that 30 BJP MLAs went to Delhi in support of Raje.

Meanwhile, the Opposition has demanded the Prime Minister to break his silence on Raje’s and Swaraj's link with Lalit Modi. They also stepped up their demand for the resignation of both the leaders, adding that BJP patriarch LK Advani, too, had expressed no confidence in the present government's leadership.

The Centre too retaliated and dragged the Congress into the controversy. While Law Minister Sadanand Gowda attacked the Congress, alleging that the previous UPA government did not take any action against Modi, his cabinet colleague Rajiv Pratap Rudy dismissed the demand of Swaraj's and Raje's resignation. 

Under attack over reports that his company received investments from Lalit Modi, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's son Dushyant Singh on Thursday claimed that his company, <g data-gr-id="68">Niyant</g> Heritage Hotels Pvt Ltd (NHHPL), has not done "anything illegal nor committed any irregularity". "Presently, I am on a personal foreign visit. I came to know that for the last couple of days, media have been doing confusing and vicious propaganda and trying to tarnish my image, that is very unlawful", Singh said.