New Delhi, Oct 7 (IANS) Even as Robert Vadra Sunday described allegations of having received "undue favours" from reality major DLF as "entirely baseless" and aimed at maligning his family, social activist Arvind Kejriwal stuck to his charges and said he was prepared to face a legal battle.
The Congress Sunday continued to target Kejriwal and his associates in India Against Corruption (IAC) over allegations against Vadra while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the Congress should "clear the situation" instead of trying to run down the activists.
Vadra, who is married to Priyanka, daughter of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, said he was a private, law-abiding citizen who has been engaged in business over the last 21 years.
"The allegations levelled against me by Shri Kejriwal and Shri Bhushan are utterly false, entirely baseless and defamatory. My business transactions are fully reflected in financial statements filed before appropriate government authorities in compliance with the law," Vadra said in a statement to NDTV, which was posted on the news channel's website.
He said the statements were available in the public domain to anyone interested in knowing the truth. "I am saddened by the attempt of Shri Kejriwal and Shri Bhushan to deliberately misrepresent numbers contained in my financial statements, manufacture lies and malign my family in order to gain cheap publicity for them and for the launch of their political party," Vadra said.
Following allegations by Kejriwal and Bhushan, Vadra had Saturday posted on his Facebook page that he could handle all negativity. "Thanks for the concern, I can handle all the negativity. I have lost people I loved. What can be worse than that," Vadra had posted.
Kejriwal said Sunday: "He (Vadra) is hiding behind DLF and the Congress and questioning our motive. He should come in the open and clarify charges against him as he has not yet responded to specific questions asked by us," Kejriwal told reporters.
The activist said he was ready for any action including possible defamation case. "We all live in a democracy and some genuine questions are raised by us. The son-in-law of the most powerful person in the country should address the issue and he is not doing it and is shooting the messenger," Kejriwal said.
BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told IANS: "Instead of hurling allegations and defending (Vadra), the Congress should make the picture clear. It is no more the issue of an individual as the Congress is defending him. If the Congress party thinks the allegations are baseless, appropriate legal steps should be take."
"Appropriate legal option is there for both the parties," Naqvi added.
Congress spokesperson Raashid Alvi defended Vadra and accused Kejriwal of trying to malign the entire system. He said Kejriwal and his associates wanted cheap publicity.
"Whatever they say, is it true? DLF has issued a clarification but they are not ready to accept," Alvi said. He alleged that activists were not ready to go to court and had apprehensions about a legal verdict and work of investigative agencies.
"It is unfortunate to talk like this, raise questions on the entire system. What do you want. Is it jungle raj," Alvi asked.
He said if IAC members have proof, they can go to court or ask for inquiry but cannot make baseless allegations.
Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan Friday alleged that Vadra had bought properties worth over Rs.300 crore between 2007 and 2010 with an interest-free unsecured loan of Rs.65 crore provided by DLF. They claimed that the properties were given at undervalued rates in exchange of favours allegedly received from Congress state governments in Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi.
DLF Saturday refuted the charge. The company said it had business dealings with Vadra's companies and denied there was any quid pro quo.
Sources said the IAC is likely to respond to clarifications sought by DLF Monday.
