This Article is From Apr 04, 2014

'Shehzada, what goes on in your house?' Modi targets Rahul over Vadra

'Shehzada, what goes on in your house?' Modi targets Rahul over Vadra

Narendra Modi addressing a rally in Kurukshetra in Haryana

Kurukshetra: Campaigning in Haryana ahead of the national election three days away, Narendra Modi repeatedly targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by firing allegations at his brother-in-law Robert Vadra.

"Shehzada, people want to know what goes on in your house," Mr Modi said at a rally in Gurgaon, neighbouring Delhi, using his pet descriptor for Rahul Gandhi.

"People want to know who the baazigar (gambler) is who has earned 50 crores in three months," he told the crowd, without naming Mr Vadra.

"How is he related to Rahul Gandhi?" he prompted. Some in the crowd could be heard shouting "jija-ji (brother-in-law)."

The BJP's prime ministerial candidate kept to this script in the two rallies he addressed in Haryana today.

In Kurukshetra, he said, "I had said the country needs a chowkidaar (guard) and I will serve you like a chowkidaar. Shehzada said the country needs 1.25 crore countrymen as chowkidaars. I ask him, will his brother-in-law be a chowkidaar too? Will he guard land?"

Robert Vadra, who is married to Rahul's sister Priyanka, has been accused of benefiting from sweetheart land deals in Congress-ruled Haryana. The state government said it found no irregularities in Mr Vadra's land deals.

IAS officer Ashok Khemka drew attention to the deals when he cancelled a Rs. 57-crore transaction between Mr Vadra and DLF in 2012, saying rules were bypassed to help Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law.

Mr Vadra has kept a low profile during the campaign for this election and even skipped a visit to Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday when his mother-in-law Sonia filed her nomination papers for the general election. Mrs Gandhi's daughter Priyanka, who is also her campaign manager, was also missing yesterday when Rahul drove her around Raebareli.

Opinion polls predict a victory for Mr Modi's BJP in the national polls, with the ruling Congress battling charges of deep-rooted corruption after 10 years in power.
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