While “exposing” a bribery and tax evasion scam by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, the ruling party said the corruption in the Congress party enjoyed <g data-gr-id="42">protection</g> of its first family.
Addressing media at party headquarters, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “While Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi wants answers from the Prime Minister, we want to know why he kept quiet on 2G scam, CWG scam, NHAI scam and now corruption charges against Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh Chief Ministers.”
His comment was supplemented by party’s media department head Shrikant Sharma, who said, “They (Congress President and Vice-President) keep quiet because they are beneficiaries of these scams.”
Earlier in the day, the ruling Benches rattled Congress president Sonia Gandhi when BJP chief whip in Lok Sabha Arjun Ram Meghwal moved a privilege motion against businessman Robert Vadra alleging his comments on his Facebook page amounted to contempt of the House. Vadra is married to Congress president’s daughter Priyanka.
“Parliament begins and so do their petty diversion political tactics... People of India are not fooled. Regret to see India led by such <g data-gr-id="37">so called</g> leaders!!” Vadra, 46, had said in his post, attacking the ruling BJP.
Later in the day, the BJP trained its guns on Virbhadra. The party raised questions on his dealings with Anand Chauhan, a Shimla-based LIC agent. BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad raised questions over an unsecured loan taken by him.
“It is a clear case of bribery,” Prasad alleged. On Wednesday, the BJP had targeted Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat and released a sting video to level corruption charges against him. “Many more skeletons are waiting to tumble out,” said Prasad.
However, Parliament could not transact any legislative business with the government and the Opposition at loggerheads on Lalit Modi episode and Vyapam scam. The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha witnessed uproarious scenes amid repeated adjournments as the Congress continued to press for the resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Outside Parliament, Rahul attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Lalit Modi controversy and Vyapam scam, saying he had promised a corruption-free government during the election campaign and his words should carry weight. Rahul alleged Modi’s credibility was going down and he should clear the air on these issues.