BJP Accuses Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Robert Vadra of Land-Grabbing Attempt in Uttarakhand

Robert Vadra and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (File photo/PTI)

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Thursday accused Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and her businessman husband, Robert Vadra, of involvement in an alleged attempt to grab a four-acre land parcel in Uttarakhand. Addressing a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari claimed that a relative of Robert Vadra had intimidated a 90-year-old woman in an attempt to force her to vacate her sister's property. He identified the relative as Saira Vadra, the sister-in-law of Robert Vadra. "Saira Vadra is trying to take possession of a four-acre land parcel in Udham Singh Nagar district. The original land lease is in the name of the late Kulsum Khan, and the property is currently with her 90-year-old sister, Nasreen Khan," Bhandari said. "When they (the Congress) realise that Saira Vadra cannot get possession of the land through the legal route, they intimidate the occupant. She (Saira) becomes the front, while Priyanka Vadra and Robert Vadra are behind her," he added. Detailing the alleged attempt to intimidate Nasreen Khan, the BJP leader claimed that the Congress' local MLA and his supporters tried to force the elderly woman to vacate the property. "Congress MLA Tilak Raj Behar arrived at the property with around 100 supporters late on Wednesday night and threatened Nasreen Khan with dire consequences if she did not vacate the land. Did Priyanka Gandhi Vadra call the Congress MLA and ask him to ensure that her sister-in-law gets possession of the land by intimidating a 90-year-old Muslim woman?" Bhandari asked. He defended his allegation, saying it was based on Nasreen Khan's own statement, in which she accused Congress workers of trying to get the property handed over to the Vadra family. "The buck doesn't stop with the Congress MLA; it stops with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Congress claims to stand with Muslims and the poor. Yet, according to the allegations before us, a 90-year-old Muslim woman is being threatened to vacate her land," Bhandari remarked. He described the incident as an example of the "Gandhi-Vadra model of land-grabbing" and cited earlier cases allegedly involving Robert Vadra to claim there was a "pattern" in such transactions. "The people of the country should understand that if the Gandhi-Vadra family sets its sights on a piece of land, they send people repeatedly to intimidate the occupant until the land is vacated," he stated.