Vasundhara Raje admits signing documents for Lalit Modi

New Delhi: The BJP top brass on Thursday hardened its stance by making it clear that none of its controversial leaders will tender their resignations. Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, who returned to India from his visit to the United States, said, “There is nobody who is tainted, please.”

The observation came even after Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje reportedly “admitted” that she had signed the affidavit supporting former IPL chief Lalit Modi’s application for residency status in the UK.

Later on Thursday evening, Ms Raje’s office issued a statement urging the media to refrain from running stories on her alleged help to Mr Lalit Modi in procuring UK travel documents. It said “false” reports were being carried on the basis of “rumours” to tarnish Ms Raje’s image and to cause her “political damage”.

“Some media channels are running baseless and unsubstantiated news. This is designed to politically harm the Chief Minister. Would urge the media to please verify before putting out news stories,” the statement read.

Earlier on Thursday, some television channels had aired photographs and reports that a BJP delegation, that included Ms Raje, HRD minister Smriti Irani, transport minister Nitin Gadkari and party leader Vijay Jolly, had gone to London in 2011, when Ms Raje allegedly extended her stay to sign the so-called “secret document” in support of Mr Lalit Modi.