PM Narendra Modi attacks 'damaad' Robert Vadra over corruption

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Monday, took a dig at Congress president's son-in-law Robert Vadra while stressing that the NDA has provided graft-free governance.

Addressing the Indian community at the packed SAP Centre in San Jose, California, Modi said, "In our country it doesn't take much for allegations to come up against politicians... Someone made 50 crores, someone's son made 250 crores, (someone's) daughter made 500 crores, (someone's) damaad (son-in-law) made 1000 crores..."

Switching on to a question answer mode, he asked the audience "Is the country not disappointed?" The people replied "yes".

"Is there not anger against corruption," he asked. "Yes," people shouted.

Modi then asked, "I am standing before you. Tell me if there is any allegation against me." "No," people shouted.

He then told the crowd that he is giving every minute of his life in the service of the nation and he would live and die for the country.

While Modi's reference to sons and daughters of politicians being corrupt is seen as a reference to culture of corruption in the country, the reference to son-in-law is seen as a barb at alleged land deals entered into by Vadra with the some state governments.

Robert Vadra to ‘erase’ name from all no-frisk lists

"Plans to visit every terminal in the airports in India and add a white tape on my name from the VVIP list and my signature on top !! So look out," Robert Vadra said in a Facebook post Monday.

Incidentally, as reported by TOI the Goa airport had put a white tape on Robert Vadra's name at the no-frisking list earlier this year. The move, local officials had said, was taken after many people used to ask why Vadra's name was on that list.

The aviation ministry -- whose indecisiveness led to constant flip flops on Robert Vadra remaining on that list or not -- reacted furiously to the businessman's Facebook post. "Why is he politicizing the issue by writing on Facebook? He should write to me or the home minister and we will have his name removed in no time," Union minister of state for aviation minister Mahesh Sharma -- who singlehandedly runs the show as the cabinet minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju has taken a back seat -- told TOI. 

"There is a procedure to be followed. Let Robert Vadra write to the home ministry. The MHA recommendation will be forwarded to Bureau of Civil Aviation Security for the needful," Sharma added. 

Robert Vadra's plan to emulate the Goa airport board comes two days after he requested the government to remove him from the list. "I have voiced and given my written consent to remove my name from this list, many times.... I do not need this privilege and have never used it. It takes less than a minute to get frisked and there is nothing to hide, that cameras need be avoided! Maybe I need to personally go to every airport and delete my name, will that work?" he had posted. 

The NDA has done a flip flop on taking that privilege away from Robert Vadra. Ever since taking over as aviation minister last May, Ashok Raju has spoken of removing 'ornamental' names from the no-frisking list. But the home ministry gave an unclear verdict on doing so. Following this, Mahesh Sharma last Thursday said taking Robert Vadra off that list was not on the government's radar.

Robert Vadra Asks Government to Remove Him from List of No-Frisking

Insisting that he is "not a VIP", Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra today said he had given consent for removal of his name from the elite 'no-frisking' list at airports and wondered if it was not being done as part of a "conspiracy" to malign his image.

He maintained that he has never used this "privilege" and does not need it and that he should be treated as any other normal citizen of the country.

"I am clear but wish the concerned authorities would understand that I am not a VVIP or a VIP," Mr Robert Vadra said in a statement in New Delhi against the backdrop of the government saying that it has no plans to remove him from the 'no-frisking' list.

The 'no-frisking' privilege, enjoyed by SPG protectees like Mr Robert Vadra's wife Priyanka Gandhi and Constitutional dignitaries, saves them from the requirement of going through security checks at airports.

Mr Robert Vadra's name has cropped up several times with regard to whether he should enjoy the facility.

"I have given my consent to remove my name from this list many times. My conduct says it, but apparently the analysis disclosed by the government on my threat perception, allegedly says I am not required to be on this list," he said, adding "so why double standards in removing my name from the VVIP list?"

Asserting that it takes less than a minute to get frisked and he has nothing to hide, Mr Robert Vadra said "May be I need to personally go to every airport and delete my name. Will that work? Or is it a part of a larger conspiracy to malign my image? I am humble and as normal as any citizen. So please treat me like one."

He asked those concerned to "stop wasting people's time" on this issue. "There are much larger issues to be dealt with. My humble request is to focus on them." - kartikeya sharma & robert vadra