Vadra – Central News Hub

BJP creating confusion and fear, says Vadra

The son-in-law of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi alleged that the issues of EVMs, electoral bonds and pulling in leaders from the opposition parties are forgotten once the elections are over….reports Asian Lite News

Even as the BJP-led NDA remains confident of crossing the 400-mark in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Robert Vadra, the husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, has accused the Centre of creating an atmosphere of fear in the country to fulfill its mission.

“They speak with a lot of confidence (of crossing the 400-mark) despite so many inconsistencies. Be it the EVM issue or pulling leaders from the other parties, people realise that they will cross the 400-mark only if some confusion is created. An atmosphere of fear has been created in the country,” Vadra said.

“If some company is involved in fraudulent appropriation of funds then it should be investigated and penalised by the Income Tax Department and not the Enforcement Directorate. If that happens, then it is difficult for that company to survive,” he added.

The son-in-law of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi alleged that the issues of EVMs, electoral bonds and pulling in leaders from the opposition parties are forgotten once the elections are over.

“We will continue with our fight against such forces and find ways to tackle them,” said Vadra.

Vadra also spoke about strong rumours of him joining politics and fighting elections from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. “Not just Amethi, I am getting support from party workers from other constituencies as well, urging me to join active politics,” said Vadra.

Hinting yet again that he is ready to join politics “if people want”, Vadra said that he is getting calls of support from party workers all over the country, including Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.

“Not just Amethi, I am getting party workers’ support from all over the country to actively join politics. Yes, I admit that the Amethi bit (of him contesting Lok Sabha polls from the constituency) is getting more prominence because I have campaigned there since 1999. However, my posters have started appearing elsewhere too as people realise and admire the hard work that we have put in so far,” Vadra said.

However, Vadra feels that the time has come for the people of Amethi to rectify the “mistake” they made by electing Smriti Irani five years back.

“They (people of Amethi) feel that if I contest from there, they’ll have the option of correcting their mistake of electing Smritiji. I am sure they will ensure my victory by a huge margin if I contest. However, I will not fight to challenge someone even though Smritiji levelled unsubstantiated allegations against me in the past,” Vadra said.

The 55-year-old businessman from Moradabad also said that he would come out in full support if Rahul Gandhi decides to contest the elections from Amethi.

“If Rahul thinks that he should also fight from Amethi after Wayanad, I will fully support him and be with him during his campaigns. Also, I don’t need to be in active politics to interact with the people. They know they can always meet me in case Rahul or Priyanka are not available,” he said.

Vadra said that Congress is a secular party which treats all religions with equal respect.

When questioned on Congress declining an invite for the Ram Mandir’s Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya held on January 22, he dodged a direct answer and attributed it to the party’s penchant for staying away from religion-based politics.

“Congress always stays away from religion-based politics. It doesn’t want to see divisions in the country on religious lines,” Vadra said.

Incidentally, Vadra’s statement is in strong contrast to Congress’ official stand on the Ram Mandir Ptan Pratishtha ceremony, as the party didn’t shy away from calling it an ‘event sponsored by RSS-BJP’.

The Congress, while turning down the invite for the Pran Pratishtha of the ‘incomplete’ temple on January 22, called it a ploy by the BJP to garner political points.

Though Vadra remains a private individual without any political affiliation, his close family ties with the country’s first political family make him a de-facto sponsor of Congress ideology.

He also said that the Almighty is someone whom we all believe and confide in at times of hardship, irrespective of our religion. Vadra also evaded a direct reply on charges of Muslim League’s imprint on Congress’ manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Claiming that unnecessary fuss is being created over the Congress manifesto, he said there is a need to focus on developmental and other people-centric issues rather than trading baseless charges at the rival party’s poll document.

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Vadra hints at Amethi contest

Almost pitching his candidature from Amethi, Robert Vadra, who has indicated his electoral ambitions earlier too, said the Gandhi family has worked hard in Amethi and surrounding areas…reports Asian Lite News

Indicating his keenness to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Amethi, Robert Vadra, businessman and husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has said that the people of Amethi expect him to represent their constituency if he thinks of becoming a member of Parliament.

In an interview with ANI, Vadra also targeted Union Minister Smriti Irani, who represents Amethi, saying that people feel they made a mistake by electing her.

Smriti Irani defeated Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Amethi, a Nehru-Gandhi family stronghold, in one of the biggest upsets of the polls.

Almost pitching his candidature from Amethi, Robert Vadra, who has indicated his electoral ambitions earlier too, said the Gandhi family has worked hard in Amethi and surrounding areas.

“They want a member of the Gandhi family returns, they will ensure the person’s victory with a huge margin, they also expect that if I take my first step in politics, and think of becoming an MP, then I should represent Amethi,” he said.

However, Vadra also said he wants that party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi should become MP first and he can follow her.

“I want Priyanka (Gandhi) to become an MP first and then I feel I can also come…I interact with people and there are MPs from different parties. They (MPs) ask me to come along with their party and ask me the reasons for the delay. They also assure me of their support…so different parties across the country are asking me to come along…I have friendships with a lot of people above the party lines,” he said.

Vadra said that the decision on Amethi and Rae Bareli will be taken by the Congress leadership.

“I’m not saying that I will contest from Amethi or Priyanka will contest from Rae Bareli. The decision will taken by the Congress party,” he said.

Vadra said he joined hands with Priyanka Gandhi for the Congress campaign in Amethi in the 1999 Lok Sabha polls.

“That’s time politics was very different, fear was sought to be created among people. We use to visit sensitive areas at night, put up posters, distributed bags, worked hard with our workers day and night and gave them trust that we are there and they should keep working in their areas and booths. They know how we worked hard and there was brotherhood and love, which is still there,” he said.

“The people with whom I worked…outside my office, residence…they send message through social media, they cut cake on my birthday, arrange langar or other service for people because they know I like this. People in the country see that I stay among people, work hard as much as possible for the disabled and blind children and spend all time in charity. I visit on religious tour and they celebrate my birthday and celebrate festivals in my name and distribute among people there (Amethi),” he added.

Vadra was asked if he could be a candidate from Amethi.

He said the person who represents Amethi should talk about the welfare of the people of the constituency, their well-being, security and should not indulge in politics of discrimination.

He said the people of the constituency are very upset with the present MP from the seat.

“They feel they made a mistake as I think she does not visit the seat frequently, she does not think of the progress of the constituency, she thinks how to make baseless allegations, raise questions on the Gandhi family and create noise and misuse her position,” he said.

“Gandhi family has for years worked hard in Amethi, Rae Bareli, Sultanpur, Jagdishpur…there was a lot of progress. When people of Amethi feel that they made a mistake and voted for Smriti and Rahul had from there…..whatever, he had to go to another constituency or whatever…, I feel they want that a member of Gandhi family comes back…,” he said.

Congress has not yet named its candidates for Amethi and Rae Bareli seats in Uttar Pradesh, where it is contesting the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with Samajwadi Party.

The Congress election committee in Uttar Pradesh had last month unanimously recommended that members of the Gandhi family should contest from Amethi and Raebareli Lok Sabha constituencies.

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi has been representing Rae Bareli since 2004. She has now been elected to Rajya Sabha. (ANI)

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