| by B. Raman
( October 6,
2012, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) The serious allegations levelled on October
5,2012, by Shri Arvind Kejriwal and Shri Prashant Bhushan against Shri Robert
Vadra, the husband of Ms.Priyanka Gandhi and son-in-law of Mrs. Sonia Gandhi,
the Congress (I) President, cannot and should not be dismissed as politically
motivated or opportunistic. They may ultimately turn out to be so, but till
they are proved to be so, they have to be treated seriously.
2. The
allegations, if true, indicate serious wrong-doing by Shri Vadra on two counts.
Firstly, managing to obtain an unsecured loan from the DLF company and,
secondly, unduly benefitting in some property transactions as a result of
special consideration allegedly shown to him by the DLF. The public perception
will be that he benefitted in this transaction not on merits, but by virtue of
his relationship with Priyanka and Sonia Gandhi. The allegations will create
doubts about the personal honour and integrity of Shri Vadra.
3.It is for Shri
Vadra to prove these allegations to be wrong and misplaced and establish his
integrity and honour. He should not benefit from his relationship with Priyanka
and Sonia Gandhi for doing so.
4.As of now,
unless it is established that Priyanka and Sonia Gandhi were aware of his
alleged wrong-doings and did not try to stop them, they have no responsibility
for proving their innocence. It is for Shri Vadra to prove his innocence.
5. Shri Vadra
has two options:
( a ).If it is
his contention that the allegations against him are baseless, he can file a
suit for criminal defamation against Shri Kejriwal and Shri Bhushan.
(b ).On the
other hand, if it is his contention that there has been a wrong and misleading
interpretation of some facts to defame him, he should place his version before
the public with the help of documentary evidence supporting his contention.
6. He seems to
be trying to avoid countering the allegations head-on and take cover behind the
authority of Mrs.Sonia Gandhi, who also seems to be unwisely trying to extend
her protection to the alleged wrong-doings of her son-in-law. She and her party
does not seem to realise that this could ultimately lead to Sonia Gandhi and
Priyanka being viewed as accomplices after the commission of wrong-doing and
cast suspicions on their honour and integrity.
7. It is time
for Shri Vadra to come to the forefront and defend his honour and integrity
with the help of his lawyer. It is not for the Government or the Congress to
give him any legal assistance. (5-10-12)
(The writer is Additional Secretary (retd),
Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, New Delhi, and, presently, Director,
Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai, and Associate of the Chennai Centre For
China Studies. E-mail: seventyone2@gmail.com
Twitter @SORBONNE75)
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