Narendra Modi attacks Robert Vadra over Rajasthan land deals

BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Monday attacked Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra over his alleged land deals in Rajasthan during the previous Congress government's stint.

Modi, also the Gujarat chief minister, addressing a rally here in Rajasthan's Pali district, said: "Gujarat and Rajasthan are very similar and in Gujarat, we have set up solar power plants. In Rajasthan, they (the Congress) put up boards of solar power but it became damaad (son-in-law) power." "We heard all types of power but here we hear damaad power," Modi said, referring to the alleged land deals of Vadra in the state during the chief ministership of Ashok Gehlot. "In the name of solar power, you took land and gave land to your son-in-law for his benefit," the Bharatiya Janata Party leader alleged.

Amidst chanting of slogans "Modi Lao, Desh Bacho", Modi termed the Congress manifesto as a "Dhokha Patra" (bundle of lies). "They in 2009 promised to provide jobs to 10 crore youths but they never gave jobs to a single youngster and now they are making the same promises," he said. 

He said the Congress feels that people are in their pockets. "In the last ten years that madam Sonia is in power, nothing has changed for the people," he claimed. "What has changed in the last ten years for you? Did something good happen for youth, farmers. What about dignity of women," he asked.  "Elect a BJP government and we will give water by inter-linking the rivers. We will give water to the people," he said.

Modi said Delhi needs a strong government and that means Rajasthan must send 25 "Lotuses" to the Lok Sabha, in a reference to the party's symbol. 

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje also spoke on the occasion and highlighted various schemes her government plans to undertake for the welfare of the people. Polling in the state's 25 Lok Sabha constituencies will be held in two phases - on April 17 (20 seats) and April 24 (5 seats).