IANS/New Delhi

 

The ruling Congress is worried that it might be losing the battle of perception over party chief Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra, who is accused of dubious land deals by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

A senior Congress leader, wishing he not be identified, admitted yesterday that the Vadra issue adds to the "scam-tainted" image of the party.

Asked if the Vadra land deals would affect the party’s electoral prospects, he said: “Maybe... Already, due to 2G and other such issues, the party has acquired a negative perception as far as corruption is concerned.”

The party has faced a barrage of criticism over alleged scams in the distribution of telecom spectrum and the allocation of coal blocks for mining, among others, during its term in power.

The leader claimed there was no specific illegality in any of the land deals conducted by Vadra. “However, I can’t answer if you ask me how he became so rich in such a short time.”

Vadra's wife Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday put forth a strong defence of her husband, and complained he was being unfairly targeted by the opposition.

The leader felt Vadra’s political links should not be seen as having influenced the decision to grant change in land use to realty major DLF for the construction of apartments near Rashtrapati Bhavan.

“DLF has been obtaining change in land use for its projects since the inception of the company. It has got the same in half of Haryana,” he said.

Officially, the party has strongly backed Priyanka’s defence.

Spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi yesterday said the party was “110% with Priyanka."

"Mr Vadra is being targeted by the cheap tactics and dirty tricks department of the opposition and being unnecessarily dragged into the electoral debate,” he said.

Priyanka meanwhile again targeted the BJP and its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

Speaking at an election meeting in her mother's parliamentary constituency of Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka directly attacked Modi by telling the crowd "he was listening to conversations of women."

Referring to the Gujarat snoopgate scandal where opposition parties allege that Modi ordered tracking of the movements of a woman and spying on her, Priyanka said the man who was calling for protection of women was himself spying on a woman.

Seeking votes for her mother and Congress president, Priyanka urged the people not to be swayed by false propaganda unleashed by the opposition and said voters should keep their welfare and the progress of nation in mind while voting.

"A lot is being said in the poll season and you must be watching on television the type of 'tu-tu-main-main' (verbal spat) going on between political leaders," she told a gathering in Rae Bareli.

At times, television news can be disgusting, Priyanka said while pointing out that she often asked her children not to watch TV.

Realising that a large number of television crews were present at the meeting, she immediately apologised for the taunt but added that somehow this was the reality.

Priyanka also listed many issues like infrastructure development, creation of jobs and women's empowerment as key issues people should care for. Ask the politicians how they will protect your interests, she told a group of women.

Priyanka is doubling as the campaign manager of her mother Sonia and brother Rahul for their respective constituencies of Rae Bareli and Amethi.

Rae Bareli votes on April 30 while polling in Amethi will be held on May 7.

 

  • The Delhi High Court will next week hear a petition seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into licences granted to several real estate developers in Haryana, including one allegedly associated with Vadra.
Related Story