Govt land used for Raje-Lalit venture: Cong

Providing more “evidences” to prove the alleged nexus between former IPL chief Lalit Modi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia, the Congress said on Monday a palace owned by the government in Dholpur, Rajasthan was occupied by Raje and her family as also Lalit Modi to construct a high-end hotel.

The BJP on Monday stoutly denied this allegation and said the property is owned by Raje’s son Dushyant Singh.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told reporters here today that further documents are available with the party — which he subsequently shared with the media — that Niyant Heritage Hotel Pvt Ltd (NHHPL) owns a high-end luxury hotel in Dholpur.

“Shockingly, Vasundhara Raje and her family as also Lalit Modi have constructed this hotel on property and land owned by the Government of Rajasthan. They have invested a huge amount in the property running into crores of rupees,” he said.

In 1954, Ramesh said, Dholpur Riyasat was merged with the Union of India. Dholpur Palace and the land it is built on was not included or described as personal property of Rana Udaibhan Singh, grandfather of Raje.

This fact was also admitted by Raje’s husband Hemant Singh in court in an inter-party litigation, the Congress leader added.

“Despite such clear evidence of Dholpur City Palace and land being the property of the Government of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje as also Lalit Modi proceeded to convert the same into a high-end private luxury hotel, which is currently being run by their company under the name and style of Niyant Heritage Hotel Private Limited.

“The current value of Dholpur City Palace and the land on which it is situated itself runs into hundreds of crores,” Ramesh said alleging that it is yet another proof of the financial dealings, partnership, and joint ownership of NHHPL between Raje and Lalit Modi.

This was the fourth allegation made against Raje, who has been facing censure for secretly supporting Lalit Modi’s immigration plea in Britain

Ramesh today also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing him as “Swami Maunendra Baba” for his continued silence over the Lalit Modi issue. Besides Raje’s resignation, the Congress has been demanding that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj quit for helping Lalit Modi get travel documents.

Former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said today Raje must step down on moral grounds.

In Jaipur, State BJP president Ashok Parnami and Rajasthan Health Minister Rajendra Rathore rejected the charge levelled by Ramesh that the Dholpur Palace does not belong to Dushyant.

Contesting Ramesh’s claim, Parnami displayed before reporters documents which, he said, clearly proved that Hemant Singh had handed over the custody of the palace to Dushyant. Court documents were there to substantiate this, he added.

Lashing out at the Congress, Parnami said for the last 10 days it has been trying to damage Raje’s image through “false propaganda”.

“Without knowing the facts, Jairam Ramesh made baseless allegations against Chief Minister Raje and her family on the Dholpur Palace that belongs to her son Dushyant Singh,” he said.

“We have got all evidences and legal papers that proves Dushyant Singh, son of Mrs Raje, has ownership rights on Dholpur palace. It was Government of India’s General Administration department’s notification of December 1956, and later Union Home Department orders, that Maharaja Rana Hemant Singh (father of Dushyant Singh) was declared legal heir of the palace,” Parnami said.

Meanwhile, RSS ideologue KN Govindacharya today said that instead of trying to give legal excuses, the BJP must take a principled stand on its leaders.

“The politics of morality cannot be expected of the Opposition. This new government must show morality. Instead of trying to show legal excuses the government must take principled stand. Otherwise what is difference between the Opposition and the government?” Govindacharya said.

“I agree that the image of the government will be downplayed if it doesn’t initiate any step,” the RSS leader added.