The Centre on Monday sought to defend Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra in his business deals with realty firm DLF. The government also ruled out any investigation into the Vadra-DLF business transactions.
On a day when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Communist Party of India-Marxists (CPM) demanded a probe into the business dealings, civil rights activist Arvind Kejriwal, who first levelled charges that Vadra had received favours from DLF, asserted that he would reveal more on the transactions on Tuesday.
Kejriwal had said that DLF had given Vadra interest-free loans.
The Congress on Monday defended Vadra and said the attack on him was “not on an individual but more on the party and its leadership.” The party also rejected demands for an inquiry.
Answering questions on the deals at the Economic Editors’ Conference here, Finance Minister Chidambaram remarked: “Unless there is a specific allegation of quid pro quo or corruption, I am afraid private transactions cannot and ought not be allowed to be questioned on the basis of imputations and insinuations.”
Levelling allegations on October 5, Kejriwal and Supreme Court senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan had charged Vadra with purchasing properties amounting to over Rs 300 crore between 2007 and 2010. They said the DLF had given Vadra an unsecured interest–free loan of Rs 65 crore. They also said the properties were undervalued.
DLF has denied it had advanced any unsecured loan to Vadra or that any quid pro quo was involved.
The Haryana and Rajasthan governments were also accused of favouring DLF.
Chidambaram on Monday reiterated his position which he made in Mumbai on Saturday. Chidambaram said he "could not respond (on the issue) on behalf of the government because that is not the issue here. I think those who made their allegations have made their statement, the company concerned has made a statement and the individual concerned has made a statement."
Announcing that more on the deals is coming, Kejriwal tweeted on Monday: “DLF granted favours to Robert Vadra. What favours did the Haryana Government grant DLF? ...DLF reply a bunch of lies? Will speak tomorrow at 5pm."
The CPM, which had maintained silence on the issue, on Monday sought an inquiry on the controversy. In a press release, the party said: “A number of charges have been levelled regarding the business dealings of the companies promoted by Vadra. There have not been any clear answers to the questions which have been raised regarding the finances of these companies and their activities in the real estate sector.”
The BJP said the Congress was trying to hide facts and was shying away from a probe.
Sparring on
* Kejriwal promises to spill more beans on Vadra deals today
* Cong rejects inquiry demands
* CPM seeks clear answers
* BJP says Cong hiding facts
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