Robert Vadra's name raked up to draw 'political gains': Congress

CHANDIGARH: Congress today slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raking up the issue of land deal involving Robert Vadra, accusing Modi of trying to draw "political gains" by "defaming" Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law before Assembly polls in Haryana.

The party claimed that the land deal issue, raised by Modi in Hisar rally yesterday, would not "harm" it in the polls.

"The name of Robert Vadra was taken (by Narendra Modi) just to take advantage during Assembly polls (in Haryana) by defaming him (Vadra) by way of raising land deal issues.

"Actually, they (BJP) had nothing against Vadra," Congress spokesman and former Union minister Rajiv Shukla said while addressing media here today.

He was responding to queries on Modi's statement in Hisar asking Election Commission to take note of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda approving the land deal between Vadra and DLF, alleging that it was done hastily as the Congress faced "certain defeat" in the October 15 polls.

He claimed that Haryana government did not give any undue advantage to Vadra.

Taking a dig at Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje, Shukla claimed that she had also raised land deals involving Vadra in Rajasthan during Assembly polls.

"Now 11 months have passed (since Assembly polls in Rajasthan), what had she (Raje) done (with regard to land deals involving Vadra)," Shukla asked.

Asked whether the land issue raked up by Modi ahead of polls would have any bearing on prospects of Congress candidates, Shukla said, "I do not think, it (Vadra issue) will go against Congress candidates at all.

"They (BJP) had raised Vadra matter during Lok Sabha polls. You can take advantage only once by misleading people but you cannot make such gains all the time," he said.