Priyanka Gandhi campaigning in Amethi on Friday
In the latest edition of her war with
Narendra Modi's BJP,
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra today said slanderous literature against her mother Sonia Gandhi and brother Rahul was being dumped on people's doorsteps in Amethi.
"They are dumping booklets and pamphlets in the middle of the night. Do it openly. It is an ideological war. If you have to say something, say it openly. Why do it like cowards?" Priyanka, 42, said while campaigning for Rahul Gandhi, who is contesting for the third time from Amethi.
"You know who lies and who does
nautanki (drama). We will not be deterred by this malicious campaign."
One of these booklets is based on highly defamatory allegations reportedly by BJP's Subramanian Swamy, whose name is on its first page.
The BJP and Mr Modi, the party's prime ministerial candidate, have been targeting Priyanka's husband Robert Vadra over controversial land deals in Haryana and Rajasthan. Mr Vadra is accused of making a fortune through sweetheart deals in states ruled by the Congress.
Recently, the BJP also released a booklet and CD titled "Damad (son-in-law) shree" on the controversy, and targeted Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi over what they called the "Robert Vadra model of development". (Also read:
BJP's sharpest attack on Robert Vadra)
On Thursday, Priyanka reacted sharply to reports that Mr Modi had said she was like his daughter, saying, "I am Rajiv Gandhi's daughter. He died for this country. He cannot be compared in my heart and mind to anyone." (read:
I am Rajiv's daughter, says Priyanka)
In what seemed to be an oblique reference to Mr Modi today, she said, "Rahul never says I will do this. He never does
Main (I),
Main, Main. He speaks for all, not for himself."
Amethi goes to polls on May 7 in the eighth round of staggered voting for the national election.