The BJP on Wednesday fielded central minister Smriti Irani to accuse Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of involvement in “corrupt” land deals along with Robert Vadra.
Smriti referred to reports in a section of the media to accuse the Congress president of being the “real face” of corruption while terming Robert, his brother-in-law, “merely a mask”.
Smriti claimed that documents seized in raids by the Enforcement Directorate had shown that Rahul and his sister Priyanka had purchased land as part of a deal involving one H.L. Pahwa. Pahwa had been raided by the ED in connection with a land deal linked to Robert.
“The country has come to know that not only Robert Vadra, but also Rahul Gandhi and Mrs Vadra are involved in corrupt land deals in this family package of corruption,” Smriti said, seeking a clarification from Rahul.
Congress communications chief Randeep Singh Surjewala dismissed Smriti’s allegations as “baseless” and said it showed the BJP’s desperation in the face of “imminent defeat”.
“Facing imminent defeat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his favourites are resorting to levelling completely baseless and fake allegations,” Surjewala said.
Smriti, who had contested against Rahul from Amethi in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, alleged that the land deal had been struck on behalf of Rahul and Priyanka, involving Pahwa and one Mahesh Kumar Nagar, who also allegedly had a role in land transactions made by Robert.
“Pahwa was lent money by C.C. Thampi, who is friends with controversial arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari,” Smriti said.
Finance minister Arun Jaitley also referred to corruption by the “Congress Party’s first family” in a Facebook post aimed at hailing the Narendra Modi government for improving the credibility of the country with regards to graft.
“While conventionally many may have relied on straightway corruption through bribery, a new methodology has now been established. Wheeler-dealers and fly-by-night operators give you the privilege of ‘sweetheart deals’,” Jaitley wrote.
“When exposed, the beneficiaries hide behind the shield of ‘clever business decisions’. If the ‘capital creation’ of the Congress Party’s first family is subjected to a forensic audit, facts will speak for themselves. Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones,” he added.
