'Modi misled nation over Vadra-DLF land deal'

New Delhi, Oct 9: Congress on Oct 8 slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of "cheap gimmickry" and "misleading" the nation and the Election Commission over the land deal between Robert Vadra an DLF, minutes after the poll body ruled that there was no violation of the model code of conduct by the Haryana government in clearing the deal.

"The Prime Minister did not even hesitate in subverting and unnecessarily involving the institution of Election Commission of India for mere political gains," Congress General Secretary and Communication Department in charge Ajay Maken said.

Accusing Modi of "cheap political impropriety", Maken said the Prime Minister had "misled" the people and the nation on the "cooked-up and politically orchestrated issue of approving land mutation by the government of Haryana." Responding to the allegation leveled by BJP's Election Cell, the EC in its order said "...there does not seem to be any violation of the model code of conduct by the government of Haryana in the above matter after the coming into force of the model code of conduct from September 12...".

Maken said the decision of the Election Commission vindicated the stand of the Congress Party, "and if read with the earlier Supreme Court observations in the matter, proved beyond doubt that the entire case was nothing but hounding of a private individual for political gains."

Maken demanded an "unconditional apology" from Modi and expressed hope that "he would refrain from his characteristic cheap gimmickry, now that he was the Prime Minister."

The model code is in force in Haryana where Assembly polls are due on October 15. Modi had alleged in an election rally that there was violation of the model code of conduct.

PTI