‘Why is Cong silent on Vadra’s links to wanted arms dealer?’

The BJP on Tuesday asked the Congress to explain Robert Vadra’s links with absconding arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, who is alleged to have bought air tickets for Vadra and refurbished his flat in London.

Addressing a press conference, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said there were three specific instances of Bhandari’s close links with Vadra — the son-in-law of Congress President Sonia Gandhi — and demanded an explanation from the Congress on possible quid pro quo in arms deals during the UPA government’s tenure.

“Why is the Congress leadership, especially the Congress President and Vice-President, keeping a studied silence on this issue, about which, till last year, their spokespersons were vehement in their protestations? They were maintaining that no conclusion should be drawn from telephonic conversations between Vadra and Bhandari. Now very specific instances of give and take between an absconding arms dealer and Vadra have been highlighted. We want to know what the Congress has to say now,” said Sitharaman.

The BJP leader underlined three “specific instances” of business dealings between Bhandari and Vadra during the UPA’s tenure in 2010. The first pertained to Bhandari refurbishing Vadra’s house in London and the “many exchanges between these two about what is to be done, which material to be used, etc”. The second instance was about money — a sum of ₹7.5 lakh — being allegedly transferred to Vadra’s account. The third was of Bhandari purchasing international air tickets for Vadra.

“Vadra owns that house in London. Bhandari is heard giving details of refurbishing that house during the UPA’s tenure. The second instance is of a money transfer, a lump sum of ₹7.5 lakh put in Vadra’s account. Could someone from the first family of the Congress explain what this money was used for? Tickets for travel, business class, window seat facility for extra leg-room, etc through a travel agent Vishal Vajpayee International Travel Home purchased by Bhandari for Vadra. These are three concrete instances highlighted by the media,” said Sitharaman.

She said this is clear evidence that money was being spent by an arms dealer wanted by investigating agencies for refurbishing Vadra’s flat, buying tickets from Nice in France to Zurich in Switzerland and a holiday resort in France. A very large amount of money was transferred from a Swiss bank account to Vadra’s account, she alleged.

“We are now talking about three different transactions with serious financial implications. The Congress VP [Rahul Gandhi] is very active these days, probably copying the PM on Twitter. He comes out with very interesting twists in the tale, perhaps to infuse humour. Why is there no tweet on his brother-in-law getting money from an arms dealer?” the Defence Minister asked.

“Their silence will have to be construed as acceptance. The Congress leadership is clearly suggesting that they looked the other way when the son-in-law of the first family was indulging in these activities. We have been raising this for some years now. The Congress should answer these questions or accept that they were complicit in Vadra’s corruption,” said Sitharaman.

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