Robert Vadra Hints At Contesting Polls From Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad

Days after hinting at plans to play a "larger role in serving the people", businessman Robert Vadra today indicated to news agency ANI that he would be open to contesting from Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad if the people want him to. "Just because I help people, some think that I am inclined towards politics. It is not necessary to be a politician to help and serve the people. But I will get into politics if people feel that I can bring about a change in good time," Mr Vadra - the brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi - was quoted as saying.

The businessman told ANI that he picked Moradabad because he was born there, and had spent his childhood in Uttar Pradesh. "I think I understand that area. However, I can stay anywhere and I believe I will still be able to understand them," he added.

Soon after Mr Vadra dropped the first hint in a Facebook post on February 24, posters welcoming the idea came up across Moradabad. "Robert Vadraji, you are welcome to contest from the Moradabad Lok Sabha seat," said one of them, credited to the "Moradabad Youth Congress".

Mr Vadra said he has "nothing to hide" as far as the money laundering case against him was concerned. "I am a law-abiding citizen. I will not leave the country till the time my name is not cleared in the matter. I have always been available and will continue to do so," he told the news agency. He had appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case involving the alleged purchase of a property in London on Wednesday.

Earlier this week, a Delhi court had rejected Mr Vadra's application for a stay on questioning by the central agency until the documents required were supplied to him and his legal team. On another application, the court directed the ED to provide hard copies of the relevant documents to his legal team within five days. The businessman had sought a complete list of documents that were allegedly seized during a search of his office by the investigation agency.

The businessman's wife - Priyanka Gandhi Vadra - had entered active politics on January 23, and was appointed as the All India Congress Committee general secretary in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh.

(With inputs from PTI)