Businessman Robert Vadra on Wednesday responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "middlemen and sons-in-law" remark made during a rally in Sonipat.
During his address, the Prime Minister accused previous Congress governments in Haryana of encouraging corruption. Modi also alleged that during Congress rule, there wasn't a single job in the state that didn't require personal recommendations.
In response, Vadra said, "I'm quite surprised that once again the Prime Minister has used my name. They've had their government in Haryana as well as at the Centre. I know that in the last decade, they have set up commissions."
Vadra specifically referred to the Dhingra Commission, which was established to investigate him and his companies, as well as multiple RTIs that questioned the extent of the land he owned in Haryana.
"They've done everything in the last decade to try and disrupt any kind of work I was doing," Vadra added. He claimed that despite numerous inquiries and notices sent to his companies, nothing was ever proven against him. "They cannot prove anything because there was no wrongdoing in the way my companies have functioned," he said.
Vadra also criticised the tone of Modi's remarks. "The way the Prime Minister, the tone that he's used to say words like Dalal and Damad, I think it's in poor taste. He's the Prime Minister of a 1.4 billion population. We expect much more from him."
Vadra claimed that Prime Minister was using his name to divert attention from the government's failures in Haryana. "I think he has nothing else to offer or say for the people of Haryana because the people of Haryana are not happy with this government," Vadra said.
Vadra also pointed out that he had received two clean chits from the government, both at the state and central levels, proving his innocence.
When asked about the upcoming elections in Haryana, Vadra expressed confidence in the Congress party's chances. He said, "Congress will do well because the people want change." He mentioned the BJP's mishandling of various issues, including the alleged molestation case involving former President of the Wrestling Federation and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and women wrestlers. Vadra also criticised the government for its failure to address unemployment and infrastructure development.
He predicted that Congress would win by a large margin in Haryana, as the people are eager for change. "The people want change, and it's going to be inevitable," Vadra added.
On Tuesday, during his address in Sonipat ahead of the upcoming elections in the state, Prime Minister Modi alleged that Congress is "entrenched in corruption."
He said, "Ten years ago, when there was a Congress government here, the farmers' lands were looted. The Congress had handed over Haryana to Dalals and Damads. There was no job that could be attained without cheating, and there was no organisation free of corruption." (ANI)
