Cong rakes up Anar Patel to shield Chidambaram

Attack to cover up allegations of irregularities by Karti

 Pushed to a corner over allegations of financial irregularities by Karti Chidambaram, the Congress on Wednesday hit back at the BJP by raking up the issue of land allocation made to associates of the daughter of Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.

The Congress demanded a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the allegations of “nepotism” during the tenure of Narendra Modi as the chief minister of Gujarat.

“Shocking facts reveal that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as chief minister of Gujarat, had sanctioned nepotism, conflict of interest and blatant plundering of public land to promote commercial and business interests of entities closely connected to Anar Patel, daughter of the then Revenue Minister and present Chief Minister of Gujarat Anandiben Patel,” Randeep Surjewala, in-charge of the AICC communications department told reporters here.

The Congress had raised this issue last month following reports in a section of the media about irregularities in allocation of land near the Gir Lion Sanctuary to Wildwoods Resort, who reports stated had extensive business dealings with Anar Patel.

Surjewala said that allotment of 250 acres of the government land next to Gir Lion Sanctuary was done for a pittance “without following any procedure or valuation or price determination”.

Former finance minister P Chidambaram’s son Karti’s purported business dealings have come under attack from political rivals the AIADMK and the BJP.

They accused Karti of having businesses across the globe which were funded by  “kickbacks received by him for facilitating the Aircel-Maxis deal”.

Sonia comes to PC’s defence

Beleaguered former finance minister finally got some backing from the Congress leadership, but it was confined to only the 2004 Ishrat Jahan “encounter” case, DHNS reports from New Delhi. “Chidambaram has already explained. We stand by that. What is new? We were targeted when we were in power,” said Sonia, when asked for her reaction on the BJP demanding an inquiry. The BJP has accused Chidambaram of altering the affidavit at the directions of his political masters, hinting at the Congress’ first  family. Realising that the issues have come out as a political handle to checkmate the Congress, the BJP continued to be aggressive on it.