Sonia Gandhi also attacked Modi government over two years celebration and said that Modi is PM not Shahenshah (emperor)
A fierce war of words has erupted between the Congress and BJP following allegations of links between Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and controversial arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari.
A combative Sonia herself led the attack on the BJP, accusing the government of conspiring against her family members and targetted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the gala celebrations organised to mark his two years in power.
She also dared the government to investigate the charges on Vadra. "If they think they are correct then they should get the matter investigated, doodh ka doodh aur pani ka pani ho jayega (the truth will come out in open)," she told news persons.
It was widely reported on Tuesday that Vadra was being probed after IT raids on Bhandari revealed links between them and on the 'benami' or proxy-owned mansion in London for Vadra in 2009.
"All allegations levelled against my family by the opposition are an attempt to attain their goal of Congress-free India. All of it is a conspiracy. Every day they are resorting to new lows, every day they are levelling some new allegations," she said.
Earlier, she unleashed a scathing attack over the NDA government spending crores of rupees in celebrating its two years in power, particularly the five-hour India Gate fete, which she termed 'unethical'.
"I have never seen anything of this sort in my entire life. A Prime Minister is a Prime Minister, not a shahenshah (emperor). At a time when the nation is reeling under drought and is suffering from poverty, such celebrations are not ethical," she said.
The comments drew sharp reactions from BJP. "A shahenshah is a person who considers this country and the party as their fiefdom. And who other than Gandhis can be called shahenshahs. They have been ruling as if this country was their fiefdom. Mrs. Indira Gandhi was responsible for the emergency in this country. That is shahenshah-ism. That is dynasty rule," said party spokesperson Sambit Patra.
He also made it a point to underline the Prime Minister's humble "chaiwala" background to hit back at Gandhi and "dynasts".
"As far as the Prime Minister is concerned, he is a poor man. He is a chaiwala who has risen gradually because of his hard work. Because of the blessings of the people of India he has become the PM of India...When a poor man becomes the PM of the country, it is very difficult for the dynasts to digest it and that is the reason as to why out of frustration Mrs. Gandhi and the Congress party are making such kinds of allegations," he said.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh, against whom Congress has sought a CBI inquiry, asking it to examine over 450 calls to Bhandari following reports, refuted the charges saying the relationship with him was personal.
"It's a social relationship and friendship, certainly not a business relationship. Since the Congress has asked for an investigation into this, I must say that I have absolutely no issues with it. Please go ahead and carry out an investigation... I have nothing to hide," Singh said.
Shehzaad Poonawalla of the Congress had written to the CBI asking it to examine if Singh made over 450 calls to Bhandari as revealed in reports. The Congress has asked the BJP to explain the alleged calls.
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