Amid Gandhi family's attacks on Narendra Modi over the Gujarat model, BJP on Sunday hit back by bringing out a video and a booklet on alleged land deals of Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law by terming it as 'Robert Vadra model of development'.
Alleging that the 'model' became successful due to the patronage provided by the Gandhi family to Robert Vadra, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "There was gross violation of laws relating to land and environment. The influence of the family helped make Vadra big earnings in the deals." The six-page booklet titled 'Damad (son-in-law) Shree' refers to the alleged deals of Vadra in Rajasthan and Haryana.
The nearly 8-minute documentary seeks to show how Vadra was allegedly helped in his business deals by the Gandhi family using their clout.
Prasad said BJP was not targeting an individual but the issue of corruption.
"Someone talks about a big heart. Whose big heart helped Robert Vadra to establish his empire in such a short span with an initial investment of Rs one lakh," he questioned. He was referring to Priyanka Gandhi's dig at Modi that a 56-inch chest was not needed to run the country but a "big heart" and "moral strength".
In her shrillest attack on BJP, Priyanka Gandhi said the party was scurrying around like "baffled" rats and she would not be intimidated by such lies but will continue to speak against its destructive politics.
"They are baffled and running around like rats. I knew that they will repeat their bunch of lies. There is nothing new in it but let them say whatever they want to. I am not afraid of anyone and will continue to speak against their negative, destructive and shameful politics," Priyanka told reporters after addressing a rally in Rae Bareli. "I will not remain quite and I am waiting for them to say more," she said.
Meanwhile, AAP too dared BJP and its Rajasthan government to take action into illegal land deals of Vadra. It also accused BJP of misleading the nation by superficially raking up the issue during the elections.
AAP alleged that BJP is merely raising the issue for political gains and accused BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi's of having a hidden deal with Gandhi family so that probe in illegal snooping of a young woman by Gujarat government is buried off.
"AAP challenges the BJP to make clear its stand on whether its Rajasthan state government will initiate a probe into the illegal land deals of Robert Vadra. BJP is trying to mislead the nation by superficially raking up the Vadra issue during the elections, but is silent on whether anything will be done to find out the extent of the scam in its own ruled state of Rajasthan," said AAP in a statement issued Sunday. — dna correspondent