BJP demands fair probe into Robert Vadra-DLF land deal

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday demanded an independent and fair probe into the Robert Vadra-DLF land deal and sought immediate sealing of the entire documentary evidence in this matter.

The party also expressed apprehensions at the manner in which the Haryana government was probing the issue through a committee with its "hand-picked" officers.

It also took a dig at Congress leaders for maintaining silence in defending Vadra now after their initial enthusiasm and questioned the silence of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law in the matter.

"BJP demands sealing of all the documentary evidence and also an immediate constitution of a free and fair investigation process in the matter," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said.

"We are worried about the evidential material...which may get mixed up, lost or probably might get completely removed. We demand the entire documentary evidence be sealed in this matter so that if necessary they are available for any investigation. We demand a free and fair investigation in this entire episode of Vadra and DLF," she said.

She said the probe should also look into the manner in which an official (Haryana IAS officer Ashok Khemka) looking into this land deal was transferred and investigation stopped.

Coming out in support of Khemka who was abruptly transferred out for probing the land deal, Sitharaman said, "Here is a classic case which is being played out in front of us -- an officer who is trying to see if land in four districts of Haryana has been undervalued...delivering a transfer order at midnight has just raised a lot of questions."

Sitharaman accused the Haryana government of suppressing measures being taken by the bureaucracy and raised questions on the way Khemka was transferred out for probing the Vadra-DLF land deal even after the prime minister had talked about supporting such officers from being "oppressed".

"Is this harassment or questioning this officer essentially to ensure that uncomfortable officers are moved out or is there any routine procedure that is adopted?" she questioned.

The BJP spokesperson said the prime minister himself had stated that he would go to the extent of trying to bring amendments in the Prevention of Corruption Act to protect honest officers from being oppressed.

Questioning the silence maintained by the state on the Vadra issue, she said, "Haryana government has to explain because till today in the garb of being a private citizen

Robert Vadra has not uttered a word in his defence. We saw over enthusiastic Congress members and also members of this government coming out the first day like a ton of bricks on all of us who questioned it.

"Having called all of us the mango people, I think we will be interested in knowing more. But on the contrary, what is happening is notwithstanding what the prime minister has said. Here is an official who initiated some kind of questioning. He is being told, he is being de-briefed and now the worry that BJP has is -- the Haryana government is not even explaining its position...," she said.