Congress refutes BJP’s allegations of Gandhi family’s links with Lalit Modi

Refuting BJP’s allegations that the first family of the Congress had very close links with former IPL chief Lalit Modi, the Congress on Friday stepped up attack on Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. The Congress said it is now proved beyond doubt that BJP’s brand of ‘patriotism’ and ‘nationalism’ emanates from helping black-money hoarders, money-launderers and fugitives of the ilk of Lalit Modi. The Congress said the BJP chooses to shamelessly defend Raje and the Prime Minister maintains a silence. Lalit Modi’s claim that he had met Priyanka Gandhi and Robert Vadra was an attempt to divert attention, the party said. “Did Priyanka go to meet him? He had run into them,” said Congress general secretary CP Joshi. The BJP meanwhile staunchly stood behind Raje after a legal team of the ruling party vetted that she has done nothing wrong in the whole episode. The BJP said the Congress is trying to target its most popular and strong leader in Rajasthan. BJP’s Rajasthan unit president Ashok Parnami said in Jaipur that all allegations against Raje were “baseless” and mounted by Congress to defame her.