B.RAMAN
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)
