New Delhi: Rejecting the defence of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje as a "thick skinned act", Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Thursday said her position has become "untenable" on Lalitgate and questioned the "absolute silence" of Prime Minister Narenrdra Modi over the episode.
Pilot also dismissed Rajasthan Health Minister Rajendra Rathore's remarks that the entire BJP, be it at the Centre or the state, are with her, saying that the BJP leader was "clutching on to a straw".
"Chief Minister's case is proved beyond doubt. Her act is enough to book her under sections of the Anti Corruption law and IPC as by backing a legally fugitive in such a manner, she has also proved her complicity. This is an open and shut case. Her position has become untenable and she must step down to allow a thorough investigation into the matter to reach to the bottom of the truth.
"Who is Rajasthan Minister to rule out her resignation. The decision has to be taken by the top leadership of the BJP. And he has not given any explanation for whatever was done by Raje. It is a thick skinned act by him to say that Raje will not resign," the Rajasthan Congress chief said.
Targetting Modi over the controversry involving Raje as well as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Pilot said the Prime Minister used to say that he was the custodian of the treasury that belongs to people.
"Now a Union Minister and a Chief Minister of his party have virtually given the keys of that treasury to people engaged in financial fraud by helping Lalit Modi. They have gone out of way to help such people.
"There is absolute silence by the Prime Minister on the goings on. He is playing with the trust of the people of India," Pilot said.
The Congress leader's reactions came soon after Rajasthan Health Minister Rathore, in a press conference in Jaipur, rejected demands for the resignation of Raje over Lalitgate, saying the entire national BJP and the Centre were with her.
"The question of her resignation does not arise. The entire BJP be it at the Centre or the state are with her. The entire legislature party is standing strongly with her. She has been leading us and will continue to do so. Our leadership is standing by her," Rathore said.
