'Raje-signed document not in official format'

Rajasthan BJP on Friday came all out to support Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje who is embroiled in a controversy over helping former IPL chief Lalit Modi.

On the documents being shown by media as carrying Raje's signature on the last page, state BJP president Ashok Parnami said: "The document is not in official format of any UK court."

"The signed document is not a witness statement and it was not presented in a court," he added.

Terming all allegations against Raje as politically motivated, Parnami said Raje has never deposed before any court in Britain nor presented any affidavit before any legal authorities.

"The document is just a draft statement, which is not legal," he said while addressing a press conference here.

Defending the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with Champlimaud Foundation of Portugal, state Medical and Health Minister Rajendra Rathore said the MOU was signed after studying which institute or hospital provides better facilities for treatment of cancer.

The MOU is meant to provide better facilities for cancer management in Rajasthan, he observed.

"There are over 1.30 lakh cancer patients in Rajasthan and establishment of this institute will provide better facilitates to those who presently have to travel to Mumbai for medical care," Rathore said.

The Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on October 2, 2014 with Champlimaud Foundation of Portugal where Lalit Modi's wife underwent medical treatment.