Hooda: Vadra case is nothing but vendetta politics by Khattar govt

Questioning Modi government’s silence over the Rafale deal, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda strongly denied charges of land scam during his tenure.

Addressing a conference in Jaipur on Tuesday, he said, “There has been no land scam under my rule in Haryana. In fact, I have not bought even an inch of land in Haryana in my working tenure. The land I have got is what I have inherited from my father.”

Demanding a JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) probe in to the matter, Hooda said the BJP government has registered FIR against him and Robert Vadra to divert attention from the real issues plaguing the country.

“This act symbolises how frustrated the government has become. Had there been a strong proof on the land scam, neither Vadra nor I would not have been allowed to roam freely,” he added.

Based on a complaint filed by Surendra Sharma, an FIR was registered at Kherki Daula police station in Gurugram against Hooda and Robert Vadra on Saturday for alleged irregularities in land deals in Gurugram. Haryana police has launched an investigation based on the FIR. However, neither Hooda nor Vadra have been called for the questioning.

Hooda said it is the Bharatiya Janata Party which has devised the plot to ensure his name is included in the FIR. The government in Haryana is working with a vengeance, he said.

"Despite being Chief Minister of Haryana for 10 years, I did not indulge in vengeance against any party. However, it is clearly evident that BJP government is playing vendetta politics," he added.

Many questioned the timing and the content of the FIR also.  The complaint and the subsequent FIR registered by the police has similar charges. It is significant to mention that the FIR was registered based on a complaint filed by a Surendra Sharma and not any state agency or a political party.

NH tried to get Surendra Sharma’s response over the phone but failed to do as his phone remained switched off. Some news channels reported that Sharma left his village and was living in a village close to Haryana-Rajasthan boarder after filing complaint against Vadra and Hooda.

“Even Sharma was surprised with the speed police registered FIR and launched investigation. He has nothing to do with the deal. He lives in a village which is nearly 30 kilometres away from Shikohpur. He has been used as a pawn,” said the source.