New Delhi, Mar 13 (UNI) In the run up to the general elections wherein Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is expected to boost the Congress prospects in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the BJP on Wednesday dragged Congress president Rahul Gandhi's sister into a land deal linked to the arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari.
'Jo tathya samachar mediun se prastut hue aaye hai usme Mrs Vadra ka bhi ullekh hai (The facts which have come to the fore through media reports have also the name of Ms Vadra),' Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani told reporters at party headquarters here.
She also said, 'The nation has come to a conclusion that Rahul Gandhi's intervention in defence preparedness stems from his pursuit not only from individual politics but his personal commercial interest, his personal family interest'.
She said Mr Gandhi needs to answer 'what is the special commercial relationship he shares with arms dealer Bhandari and others'.
'Why is it that the land which is owned and purchased by Rahul Gandhi, is funded by an arms dealer,' Ms Irani said.
The remarks from the BJP leader who contested unsuccessfully against Mr Gandhi in 2014 came after media reports claimed that documents seized by the ED show that Rahul Gandhi had bought 5 acres of land located at Hassanpur, Palwal on March 3, 2008.
The reports also claimed that Ms Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Robert Vadra have also entered into land deals with the same person.
Reacting to Ms Irani’s allegations, AICC media incharge Randeep Surjewala , in a statement here, termed them as a ‘figment of Mr Modi’s imagination’.

‘’ The entire set of allegations is the figment of Modiji’s imagination being hurled to divert people’s attention.


Interestingly, Congress did not deny about the land deal but said the purchase was done by Mr Rahul Gandhi out of his own funds. 'At no point of time, this purchase of a small piece of land and consequent gift to a spiritual organisation has any connection with any individual, whatsoever,' Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted.

Ms Irani said,'One presumed a commercial relation existed between Vadra and Sanjay Bhandari but the new facts clearly establishes a relationship between Rahul Gandhi and arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari.'
Answering questions, she said there have been reports earlier of Rahul Gandhi meeting Eurofighter executives and it seems 'Rahul Gandhi had personal interest for the same'.
In this context, she also raised political questions and said all the Opposition parties and alliance partners of Congress should clarify their stand whether they approve of the 'family nexus of corruption'.
'Institutionalising corruption is essence and ethos of the Congress There is a family package of corruption emanating from Vadra-Gandhi family nexus.
In the meantime, making a veiled attack on Robert Vadra for supposedly showing “clever business” acumen, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in a blog suggested that the Congress should not throw stones on others on defence deals as many skeletons would come out from their cupboard as well.
'Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones,' Mr Jaitley wrote.
He further said, 'Wheeler-dealers and fly-by-night operators give you the privilege of ‘sweetheart deals’. With very little investment, windfall profits are thrust on a few privileged ones to enable them to create a capital.
'Political equity’ results in buying goodwill. It enables you to influence decisions. When exposed, the beneficiaries hide behind the shield of clever business decisions.'
UNI DEVN-RSA 1917