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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has escalated its attack on the Congress party in the lead-up to the Haryana assembly elections, drawing attention to alleged corruption involving Robert Vadra, brother-in-law of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia framed the election as a showdown between "Haryana ka laal" (son of Haryana) and "dalaal" (fixer) of the Gandhi family, directly targeting the Congress leadership for their silence on the corruption charges against Vadra. The accusations center on questionable land deals that occurred during the Congress's tenure in power in Haryana, between 2004 and 2014, under Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
Bhatia highlighted a specific case involving Vadra's company allegedly acquiring 3.5 acres of land from farmers. He claims that the Hooda government subsequently changed the land use designation, enabling Vadra to sell the land at a significantly inflated price, resulting in a large profit. Another instance involves farmers being compelled to sell their land at distress prices after the Congress government initiated land acquisition proceedings, only to later revoke those proceedings after a builder linked to Vadra purchased the land. These allegations suggest a pattern of land grabbing and manipulation for personal gain, with Vadra serving as a key figure. While Vadra has consistently denied any wrongdoing and attributed the allegations to political vendetta, the BJP has seized on these controversies to further its political objectives.
The BJP's tactic of focusing on Vadra's alleged corruption is likely a strategic move to weaken the Congress's standing in Haryana. The party has highlighted the Congress's internal disputes, specifically pointing out the alleged mistreatment of Kumar Selja, a Dalit leader, by Hooda and Randeep Surjewala. This strategy aims to portray the Congress as a divided and weak force, lacking the integrity and leadership necessary to govern effectively. The BJP, on the other hand, is projecting an image of competence and commitment to farmers' welfare, highlighting the initiatives undertaken by the Modi government and the state government headed by Nayab Singh Saini. The party is confident of retaining power, buoyed by its recent performance in the Lok Sabha elections and the controversies surrounding Vadra and the Congress leadership. The upcoming Haryana assembly elections promise to be a heated contest, with the BJP aggressively employing the Vadra allegations to undermine its political opponent and secure its own victory.
Source: BJP raises charges against Vadra to target Congress ahead of Haryana assembly polls