With the opposition looking for blood after three top BJP women leaders – Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde – landed in various controversies, BJP went on the defensive and stood by these leaders.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday ruled out any resignations in the wake of allegations of impropriety against some members of the union cabinet.
“There will be no resignations. This is not a UPA government. This is an NDA government,” Rajnath Singh said when asked whether there was pressure on the government to secure the resignation of some ministers before the monsoon session of parliament begins next month.
Smriti Irani
Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani faced trouble after a Delhi court took cognisance of a complaint filed against her for allegedly furnishing false information about her academic qualifications in affidavits she had filed before the Election Commission in 2004, 2011 and 2014.
The court posted the matter for further hearing on August 28 and asked the journalist, who has filed the complaint, to submit evidence before the court.
The Opposition led by the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were quick to demand that she resign immediately to aid free and fair probe into the matter.
ALSO READ: Congress, AAP Ask PM To Sack Smriti Irani
“Court has found the matter cognizable, trial is going to start soon, the matter will be investigated. Is it not conflict of interest that she remains Education Minister of country while the matter will be under Court’s jurisdiction?” said Ajay Maken of the Congress.
On the other hand, AAP leaders were quick to link her case with that of Delhi minister Narendra Singh Tomar and said that she should also be arrested.
However, BJP blamed “typographical error” for the alleged false information on educational qualification submitted by HRD Minister Smriti Irani and rejected any comparison between her and AAP leader Jitender Singh Tomar who has been jailed in a fake degree case.
“Our ministers do not have to resign. This is not their (Congress’) government. This is NDA government,” Home Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters at the Cabinet briefing.
Vasundhara Raje
As Irani faced controrversy In Delhi, the opposition increased its attack on Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in Jaipur.
The Congress sought her immediate resignation after it released documents purportedly signed by Raje in which she allegedly backed former IPL chief’s immigration plea in Britain.
The seven-page document was released by senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh during a AICC briefing here on Wednesday.
“She has been lying all along,” Jairam Ramesh said while showing the document to the media cameras.
“The curtains are off, the secret is out. The document signed by Raje dated August 18, 2011 supporting Lalit Modi’s immigration case before the UK government is out. When the issue first came to light, Raje feigned ignorance and then said she does not remember,” Ramesh added.
ALSO READ: PM Modi Should Follow Me, Act Against Swaraj, Raje says Kejriwal
Ramesh said that by helping Lalit Modi, Raje had violated the law as per the Indian Penal Code, Prevention of Corruption Act, PMLA and Passport Act.
“She should immediately resign. It should be followed by the resignation of Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and HRD Minister Smriti Irani,” he said.
It is being said that the BJP leadfership has given Raje 24 hours to clear her name.
Meanwhile, the Rajasthan unit of the party came out openly in support of the Chief Minister. “We completely rule out Vasundhara Raje ji’s resignation demand,the entire party stands with her,” said Rajendra Rathore, Rajasthan Health Minister.
Pankaja Munde
The Congress, NCP and AAP demanded resignation of Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde following charges that she cleared purchases worth Rs 206 crore through 24 Government Resolutions (GR) on a single day instead of inviting tenders.
Pankaja, daughter of late Gopinath Munde, was accused by the opposition of a Rs 206 crore scam in purchase of food items and other materials such as chikki, mats, books, dishes and water filters.
ALSO READ: Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde Accused Of Rs 206 Cr ‘Scam’
The alleged scam came to light on June 15, when the office of Pankaja Munde, state Women and Child Development Minister, received a letter from Ahmednagar Zilha Parishad president Manjushree Gund complaining about the quality of chikki (a popular snack) distributed to tribal students under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). Gund said the chikki was contaminated with clay.
All the purchases had been cleared by Munde, daughter of late BJP stalwart Gopinath Munde, on a single day on February 13 through 24 Government Resolutions (GR).
As per norms, any government purchase above Rs 3 lakh has to be done through e-tendering.