New Delhi/Rae Bareli, April 27 (IANS) The verbal spat between the Congress and the BJP grew more strident Sunday with the BJP's allegations of "corruption under patronage" in land deals of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra evoked a spirited response from his wife Priyanka Gandhi, who accused the party of "running like bewildered rats".
Priyanka Gandhi's forceful counter-offensive in which she also spoke about not being intimidated by BJP's attacks and "lies" and her determination to continue speaking against its "destructive" politics spurred similar reactions from Congress spokespersons who dismissed allegations against Vadra.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad launched one of his party's fiercest attacks on the Gandhi family, accusing Vadra of making "unscrupulous" land deals and seeking answers from Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi on the issue.
Prasad told a press conference in New Delhi that the Gandhis should explain the "Robert Vadra model of development" when "there is so much unemployment and economy was down".
"It is a text book case of corruption, crony capitalism under patronage," he said.
Terming Vadra as "damad shri (honoured son-in-law)", Prasad claimed land acquisitions by Vadra's firms had flouted several laws, including the Land Acquisition Act in Congress-ruled Haryana and in Rajasthan where the party was earlier in power.
The BJP released a video and a six-page booklet - "Damad shree the Vadra 'get-rich-quick' model" - on Vadra's land deals.
The video made repeated attacks at Vadra and said the people will not forgive the Congress in the Lok Sabha election. The booklet posed several queries to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi on Vadra's land deals and asked them to come clean.
The video said while there were cases of "bhai bhatijavad (nepotism)", Vadra had added a new tradition of "damadvad (son-in-law favouritism)".
The BJP said the booklet will be distributed in different parts of the country.
Prasad said if an investigation is carried out, there will be criminal cases against Vadra.
"He (Vadra) made huge profit of Rs.300 crore in a few years from an intitial investment of Rs.1 lakh," he alleged.
Congress spokespersons Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Randeep Surjewala and general secretary Ajay Maken refuted the BJP's allegations, but it was Priyanka Gandhi, who in Rae Bareli came out all guns blazing against the BJP and said she will not stay quiet.
She accused the BJP of unecessarily defaming her husband and said the opposition represented "destructive, negative" politics.
"They are behaving like bewildered rats. I knew they would resort to spreading lies a few days before polls," she told media persons in the constituency where her mother Sonia Gandhi is contesting.
"Let them do more such smear campaigns. I will not keep quiet. I will keep raising my voice against their negative, destructive and shameful politics," she said after an election rally.
"Let them attack more. I will not remain quiet," she said.
In her addresses, she targeted BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, saying his party represented a kind of politics which aimed at concentrating power in one person, while in an indirect jibe at Modi, quipped India does not need a "56-inch chest" for good governance.
Maken said the allegations levelled by the BJP were "old and baseless" and had been regurgitated during election time "as a cheap political stunt."
The BJP's attack Sunday came amid concerted Congress criticism of Modi over his Gujarat model of development, and two days ahead of the April 30 polling for 89 Lok Sabha seats, including all 26 seats in Gujarat.
Lucknow teenager behind 'Twitter Handlegate' innocent: Omar
Srinagar, May 22 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday expressed sympathy with Qaiser Ali, the teenager from Lucknow, who inadvertently took the PMO Twitter handle without
Shahrukh Khan hid his 'Dunki' look! Fans said - Umbrella also belongs to Mercedes
Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan was recently once again spotted in Mumbai. He was leaving for the shooting of his upcoming film Dunki. Shahrukh Khan was seen hiding from the paparazzi at the private
Supreme Court: Supreme Court said- a mother has the right to include her child in the new family
The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that a mother who remarries after the death of the biological father can decide the surname of the child and include him in her new family. A bench of Justice
Wanted my statement to be India's statement: Femina Miss India World
Mumbai, March 30 (IANS) Aditi Arya, who is the proud possessor of this year's Femina Miss India World crown, says she always wanted to represent India on an international level and that inspired
Amidst the news of leaving Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, Shailesh Lodha's post went viral, saying – If many liars gather, then the truth breaks.
The popular show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has been getting the love of the audience for many years. Every character in this show is famous from house to house. At the same time, recently such
Latest 5G Smartphones: If you are also looking for 5G smartphone in the budget of 15 thousand rupees, then these are the latest options
Nowadays, most smartphone companies are launching only phones equipped with 5G technology. In such a situation, if you are also planning to get a new 5G smartphone and are not able to decide which one
Rail budget: Parties react on expected lines in Odisha
Bhubaneswar, Feb 26 (IANS) Political parties in Odisha reacted on expected lines Thursday after the presentation of the railway budget for 2015-16 in parliament.While the Congress and the ruling
The average age decreased due to poisonous air, the world did not wake up even after the alarm bell, know - an expert view
The problem of air pollution has taken a formidable form around the world. About 91 percent of the world's population is forced to breathe in such air, which is very harmful to their health. In India
India Canada Row: No entry of Canadian citizens into the country, another action against Canada; India suspended visa service
India has taken another big action against Canada. India has suspended visa services for Canadians. Visa service for Canadian citizens has been suspended. According to the information, services have
Weather Update: No chance of relief from heat, know how the weather will be in Delhi, UP, Bihar today
After the record-breaking heat of March, even in April, the heat of Delhi is in no mood to give relief. In the first week of the month itself, the capital has been engulfed by heat, a yellow alert has
