Lalit Modi row: Congress seeks Vasundhara's resignation

The Congress on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje over allegations that she testified in favour of former IPL chief Lalit Modi's British immigration application in 2011.

"The chief minister has no right to continue in office," Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot said at a press conference in Delhi.

He alleged that Raje helped Modi, who was facing investigations regarding alleged tax evasion.

Pilot said the Congress in the state will hit the streets on Thursday to press for her resignation.

The Congress is already demanding the resignation of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj over her assistance to Modi to get travel documents from the British authorities after his Indian passport was revoked.

The party's Rajasthan unit on Wednesday passed a resolution at its executive meeting in Udaipur demanding Raje's ouster.

"The resignations have been demanded from both of them (Raje and Sushma Swaraj) for allegedly favouring Lalit Modi," Congress spokesperson Archana Sharma told IANS over phone.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party's state unit president Ashok Parnami asked: "Why did the Congress, which was a ruling party both at the centre and in the state, not launch a probe at that time."

"This clearly shows that the Congress is raising baseless allegations and is engaging in petty politics," Parnami said.

Raje was hit by controversy following revelation apparently made in a statement released by Lalit Modi's legal team.

The statement said that Raje, who was then leader of opposition in the Rajasthan assembly, said she was in favour of Lalit Modi's immigration application but on the strict condition that her name will not be revealed to the Indian authorities.

Raje, in a press note issued by her media advisor, later said she knew Lalit Modi's family but was not aware "which document people are talking about".