Akhilesh Yadav defends Vadra, calls Modi a 'Model of Dividing India'

Barabanki, Apr 28: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister

on Monday appeared to be defending Priyanka Gandhi's husband Robert Vadra, accusing BJP of blowing the issue of land deals out of proportion and attacked

saying his name meant "Model of Dividing India".

Yadav, without naming anyone, said the issue was being raised by BJP as an attempt to distract the attention of the people from other things, an apparent reference to the BJP questioning the land deals by Vadra, son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

"BJP is unnecessarily blowing the land issue out of proportion. This is not a big thing. Which party does not give land to companies to set up project for the development of the area when it comes to power. By creating hype over the issue, BJP is distracting the attention of the people from other things," he said, without naming anyone, while addressing an election rally at Jaidpur.

Akhilesh: BJP is unnecessarily blowing the land issue out of proportion

Though, he said rules have been framed for land acquisition in the state and no one can forcibly acquired the land nor it can be auctioned for recovery of debt.

Attacking BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Yadav said, "you don't know the full form of Modi. It is 'Model of Dividing India' and Modi wants to divide the country on the caste and religious lines."

He claimed Modi was made the Prime Ministerial candidate due to pressures from Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, but his intention would never be fulfilled. "Only propaganda of Modi was being done and in reality BJP was nowhere," he alleged.

PTI