BJP has no space for manoeuvre, must ask Raje to resign: Congress

Says document released by the Congress shows Raje's involvement in the Lalit Modi episode

Sharpening its attack on BJP over the issue of help extended to controversial former IPL boss Lalit Modi, Congress today said the party should ask Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje to step down as it can no longer "continue to defend the indefensible".

After the emergence of a document backing Lalit Modi's immigration application in the UK which purportedly bears Raje's signature, Congress has said that her continuance as Rajasthan Chief Minister has become untenable.

Dismissing as being "lame" BJP's claim that the signatures in the said document are forged, Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot said, "I don't think it is possible for anyone to put up that lame an argument... And, if she had to deny the signatures, she should have done it perhaps in the beginning.

"She knows that the signature is hers and she has never denied it. So, I don't think at this late stage to come out and say that they are forged or falsified, that's really something that nobody is going to buy. And I hope BJP will also not buy that argument."

Pilot said that BJP is trying to "buy time" and not clearly defending the Rajasthan Chief Minister.

"Unfortunately for them (BJP), they have to realise the inescapable truth is that she has broken the law. She has transgressed Indian law knowingly and the flying statement which shows that she was trying to help Lalit Modi get travel documents is in violation of Indian law and by no account can the BJP continue to defend the indefensible," he said.

Pilot made a strong pitch for her resignation, saying no amount of BJP support can help her now.

"I am of the opinion that after what has now been made public, there is absolutely no scope left, no face left for BJP to manoeuvre and defend its leadership," he added.

"There cannot be two laws in this country. One for common citizens and one for high-ranking BJP officials. Therefore... I think it is in the best interest of the state and also of BJP to ask the chief minister to put in her papers as soon as possible," he said.