Allegations against Raje baseless: Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said that allegations against Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for her alleged help to former IPL chief Lalit Modi were "baseless" and the BJP and the central government stood strongly behind her.

"All allegations against Raje are baseless. These accusations have no substance," Gadkari told reporters after meeting Raje at her official residence here.

Raje is accused of testifying in favour of Lalit Modi's British immigration application in 2011.

"Vasundhara ji legally, logically and ethically is completely correct. There is no fault of hers anywhere. Doing this kind of politics is not right," the union road, transport and highways minister added.

Gadkari also assured Raje that the BJP and the union government strongly supported her.

"I assured her (Raje) that the government and the BJP stand strongly with her," Gadkari said.

"Hum kal bhi unke sath the aur aaj bhi unke sath hain (we were supportive of her in the past and we still are)," he remarked.

Gadkari also defended Dushyant Singh, Raje's son and BJP MP from Jhalawar-Baran constituency in Rajasthan, for his financial dealings with Lalit Modi.

He said that as far as Dushyant was concerned, all transactions were on record in income tax returns.

"Borrowing money from someone is no crime," Gadkari said.