Union minister Smriti Irani accusing the entire Gandhi family — party president Rahul, sister Priyanka, and her husband Robert Vadra — of corruption and of institutionalising it during the UPA regime.
The BJP scaled up its attacks against the Congress on Wednesday, with Union minister Smriti Irani accusing the entire Gandhi family — party president Rahul, sister Priyanka, and her husband Robert Vadra — of corruption and of institutionalising it during the UPA regime.
Making a serious charge against Rahul, who she is expected to fight in Amethi, Irani alleged that Vadra was merely a "mask" in the suspect land deals for which he is being investigated by the ED, and that Rahul was the real face.
Basing her allegations on a media report, Irani claimed links between the Gandhis and fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, an aide of Vadra who is also currently being investigated. She said the Congress president's "intervention" in defence preparedness of the country stems from his "pursuit" of not only individual politics, but also his "personal commercial interest and family interest".
Rahul Gandhi procured land from HL Pahwa, who was raided by the ED, she said, adding that this purchase was made through a "conduit representative" named Mahesh Nagar who had represented Vadra in the dubious land purchases.
"Investigation has revealed that CC Thampi had funded this land deal involving Rahul and Pahwa. Thampi's friendship with Vadra and Bhandari is well known," Irani said. "To support the financial relationship, Pahwa was suitably financed by Thampi. Investigations have found a money trail between Thampi and Pahwa amounting to Rs 54 crore."
Irani claimed that Thampi's name had also figured during the UPA rule in connection with financial violation in land transactions in Delhi-NCR amounting to Rs 280 crore.
Countering BJP's charges, the Congress hit back, with chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asking why the ruling party hadn't probed the deal in five years that they were in power at the Centre. "The BJP wants to divert people's attention from real issues," he said.
"Smritiji is so blinded by her desire for revenge against Rahul Gandhi that she is resorting to fake and false allegations as a diversionary tactic to give cover fire to the Prime Minister. But they are not going to succeed," he said.
In Chennai, meanwhile, Rahul said the government has every right to investigate Robert Vadra, but said the same yardsticks should also be applied against PM Modi regarding serious corruption allegations in the Rafale
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