I am being used as 'political tool', says Robert Vadra

New Delhi, Nov 22: Robert Vadra, whose land deals are being probed in BJP-ruled Haryana and Rajasthan, today contended that he was being subjected to a "political witch-hunt" and used as a "political tool".

Son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the controversial businessman said a distinction should be made between him as an individual conducting business like anyone else and the politics of the family of his wife Priyanka Gandhi Vadra "without constantly attempting to link the two".

Alleging that there was a "sustained political attack" on him, 46-year-old Vadra claimed that BJP was using attacks on him as a "political tool whenever they need to divert public attention".

He said he has always conducted business transparently in accordance with the law but he was being "singled out" and "lies" were spread which made it difficult for him at times to come to terms with the "way I have been portrayed".

Vadra told PTI that "perception about me seems to have become so deeply embedded that it seems as if the truth does not matter to anyone anymore".

On the inquiry being undertaken against his business deals in Haryana and Rajasthan besides the Enforcement Directorate sending a notice to his company, he said, "There is a clear-cut political witch-hunt.... The more they hound me, the more apparent it is becoming that they are using their attacks on me as a political tool whenever they need to divert public attention."

On the probe in Haryana where the one-man Justice S N Dhingra Commission is looking into grant of land licences to some companies including that of Vadra's in four villages of Gurgaon, Vadra said he had not received any notices so far but has read the media reports in this regard.

"I will deal with the notices from the inquiry and the ED as and when I receive them. Since these proceedings involve legal issues, I would not like to make any comment on them at this stage," he said.

The BJP government in Haryana had in May set up the Dhingra Commission to probe alleged irregularities in grant of licences by the Department of Town and Country Planning to some companies, including that of Vadra, in Sector 83 of Gurgaon for developing commercial colonies during the previous Congress government of Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

PTI