Congress defends Robert Vadra, terms allegations as 'baseless and defamatory'
MoS parliamentary affairs Rajiv Shukla said Vadra had declared all the loans which showed that his dealings were above board.
Information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soniquestioned the insinuation that zero-interest loan by real estate firm DLF was quid pro quo with an individual linked to the first family of the ruling party. "It is for the entity that gives loan to decide the terms of loan. It is between the two individuals," she said, insisting that Vadra was a common man having a business of his own. MoS parliamentary affairs Rajiv Shukla said Vadra had declared all the loans which showed that his dealings were above board.
"There was no quid pro quo. There was no favour given to DLF which is working in all states and has bought land even in non-Congress-ruled states," he said.
The issue, which broke the run of applause for government's reforms measures and brought the issue of corruption uncomfortably close to the leadership, figured in the meeting of the party's core group. Congress managers came to know about the impending expose by former Anna Hazare associates, including Prashant Bhushan and Shanti Bhushan but kept quiet till the BJP seized upon the allegations to say that the issue had "links with Congress president's household".
A stung party swiftly wheeled out its big guns to slam the charge against Vadra and question the activists' motives. The sight was interesting since Congress has in the past been awkward about Vadra's flamboyance, a regular on Page 3 for bodybuilding and business, which contrasted strongly with the media-shy Rahul Gandhi. His comments about his political ambitions during the UP polls had led to discomfiture in party ranks.
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