BJP accuses Congress of maligning Raje's image

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday accused the Congress party of attempting to malign Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's image, with the grand old party gunning for her resignation for helping former IPL chairman Lalit Modi.

The opposition mounted pressure on Raje after the emergence of a letter reportedly carrying her signature, in which she backs Lalit Modi's application in the UK.

"The Congress has made many efforts time and again to malign the image of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje," Rajasthan BJP president Ashok Parnami said at a press conference here.

"We cannot comment until the context in which Raje's signatures were given is clear. She just said she doesn't know what contents that letter contain which is being discussed in media," he added.

"We completely rule out demands for Vasundhara Raje ji's resignation. The entire party stands with her," Rajasthan Health Minister Rajendra Rathore further said.

The BJP, which has been defending External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj despite opposition demands that she be sacked for helping Lalit Modi, was hit with another worry last week when the former IPL boss claimed that Raje secretly supported his immigration plea in Britain.

Since this information came to light, the opposition has been clamouring for Raje's resignation.