On Lalit Modi Scandal, BJP Won't Defend Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje

New Delhi: As Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje faces calls for her resignation in connection with the controversy swirling around former IPL chief Lalit Modi, her party BJP has decided not to back her for now.

While the BJP has taken a clear stand in support of Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is facing attacks for helping Lalit Modi obtain emergency travel documents from Britain when his passport was held by Indian authorities over corruption allegations, sources say the party has asked its leaders not to defend Ms Raje or speak for her "till facts are ascertained."

Speaking to NDTV, BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Chandan Mitra said there was "no gag order" but Ms Raje needed to clarify. "Obviously, she knows how to handle these things. So let her clarify. Once we have the facts, we will speak on it."

Ms Raje phoned party chief Amit Shah on Wednesday after documents released by Lalit Modi's PR team showed that she had agreed to be a secret witness for the controversial former IPL chief's  immigration application to the UK.

Lalit Modi had also apparently given a loan of Rs 11.6 crore to a company run by Vasundhara Raje's son Dushyant Singh.

Sources say Ms Raje explained to Mr Shah how her family and that of Lalit Modi have known each other for some time and there is no wrongdoing. But her clarification has not convinced the party, say sources.

A three-page note dated 18 August, 2011, nearly a year after corruption allegations surfaced against Lalit Modi, shows that Ms Raje had supported his immigration application when she was opposition leader, but on condition of strict secrecy. Sources close to her say the document is not verified; it has no signatures.

Ms Raje purportedly says in the document: "I make this statement in support of any immigration application that Lalit Modi makes, but do so on the strict condition that my assistance will not become known to the Indian authorities."

The Congress has announced street protests across Rajasthan to press for Ms Raje's resignation.