JOIN USAAP barb forces Rajasthan BJP to probe Vadra deals
Immense pressure from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the issue of alleged illegal land deals of Robert Vadra finally prodded the Rajasthan unit of the BJP into action. It has assured “a fair probe” into the controversial deals.
Falling in line with top leadership, state BJP chief Ashok Parnami on Tuesday announced that the Vasundhara Raje-led state government would soon launch a probe into the deals. After coming to power in December last year, this is the first time the party has raised the issue.
“A fair probe will be initiated into the Vadra land deals after the poll-code period ends. It was only due to the model code of conduct that the BJP government could not initiate any probe,” said Parnami. Action would be taken in case any irregularities are found in the land deals, he added.
Sources in the party said it may initiate probe by an official of divisional-commissioner rank. A preliminary report on Vadra's land deals has already been submitted to Raje by the revenue department, headed by the chief minister herself.
Meanwhile, the state unit of the AAP has raised strong objections and alleged that the BJP and the Congress are working hand-in-hand in Rajasthan. The party said the BJP raised the Vadra issue during Assembly elections just to get votes, and has taken no action even four months after coming to power in the state.
“Why didn’t BJP take any action in this case ever since it came to power in December last year?” asked Rajesh Pareek, secretary of the AAP's Rajasthan unit. “We are ready to hit the streets if they continue to fool the people,” he added.
The controversy came to light after Vadra went on a land-buying spree in Rajasthan. In a flurry of deals between June 2009 and August 2011, he purchased at least 20 plots of land, measuring more than 770 hectares collectively in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district.
Local BJP leaders in Bikaner said data from the office of the registrar in Bikaner shows Vadra purchased 20 properties through different companies, including Real Earth Estates Pvt Ltd, North India IT Park Pvt Ltd and Skylight Realty Pvt Ltd.