Modi attacks Haryana govt over Vadra deals

 The controversial land deals of Robert Vadra were back in focus on Monday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking the Election Commission to take “appropriate action” on reports of the Haryana government clearing such “illegal transactions”.

Addressing an election rally in Hisar, Modi alleged that Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was forced by the Congress leadership to legitimise the land deal between Vadra and a real estate developer in the middle of elections. Vadra is the son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

“It looks as if the ‘danda’ (stick) has come from the top. They (Hooda government) know that after the elections, the son-in-law (Vadra) will not get any clearances for illegal deals,” Modi said.

Hooda rejected Modi’s allegations and accused him of misleading voters. “The Haryana government has nothing to do with it (land deals). Whoever is saying this is misleading. If anybody can prove that even an inch of government land (was used) then I am ready to leave my post today. They can even appeal to the Lokayukta,” Hooda said.

Dubbing Modi a “habitual liar”, senior Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed said the mutation for the land deal in question was granted in July, much before the model code of conduct was enforced and not “yesterday” as claimed by the prime minister.

The Congress also hit back at Modi for “misusing state machinery” to broadcast his programme “Mann ki Baat” on All India Radio on Friday in the middle of elections to key states.

Modi was referring to media reports that the Haryana government had cleared a land deal in Gurgaon between a prominent real estate developer and Vadra.