Sonia Gandhi's son in-law Robert Vadra was in the eye of a storm some days back when India Against Corruption (IAC) activists Arvind Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan made public a case of financial impropriety involving Vadra and realty giant DLF.
The allegations made by the activists was that DLF gave properties valued at Rs.300 crore to Vadra at undervalued rates. They also said that Vadra's company with a capital of Rs.50 lakh and with no obvious revenue stream, got an unsecured interest free loan of Rs. 65 crore from DLF. Activists allege a quid pro quo where Vadra, using Sonia's political office may have managed to do favours to DLF.
The details put out in the public in a press conference by Kejriwal and Bhushan was already exposed months back by the national daily - Economic Times.
Media accuses Kejriwal of having taken an immoral and unfair stand by raking up this issue again.
Media questions Kejriwal's attack on the individual Vadra. Media is seeming to forget the fact that Vadra is no simple citizen. He is the son in-law of our nation's one of the most powerful political figures. This very fact makes the issue big. Also the fact that Vadra could have used his mother in-law's clout to make things easy for DLF cannot be brushed under the carpet.
Media accusers Kejriwal of having painted Vadra dark by not giving the latter an opportunity to clear his stand. People in media say that Kejriwal should have spoken to Vadra prior to the expose.
Let us put things in perspective. Firstly, the media should understand that Vadra has a celebrity status. It is said that he is not frisked in airports! How can such a person, especially of the Gandhi family, be contacted by an 'aam aadmi' like Kejriwal? Secondly, all accept, including Kejriwal himself that this issue was first made public by Economic Times months back. Did any of the people in the media and politics who raise such questions now, ask the editor of the Economic Times if he had spoken to Vadra before the news was published? Thirdly, 're-expose' by team Kejriwal was made only after they confirmed the facts by going through the account books of Vadra. Who in the world makes an expose after seeking permission from the people involved? Are the hidden camera exposes made by media aired after seeking permission from the people taped and showed in it?
Media also accuses Kejriwal of using his celebrity to revive this and bring this issue to the fore. I would like to ask what is wrong in using one's celebrity, to bring to the fore, an issue involving corruption tot he tune of crores of Rupees? Be it Vadra or Chandra, Sonia's son in-law or someone else's, corruption is corruption and it needs to be not only exposed but also investigated impartially.
Media should now get into the merits of the case rather than accusing Team Kejriwal for raking this issue. The media should go through the account books of Vadra and make it public. It should interview Vadra and the concerned DLF personnel.
Lot many ministers, including some of the cabinet ministers came out in the media to slam Kejriwal and render support to Vadra. None dared to speak about the case's merit. No opposition party raised this issue when it was published in the Economic Times months back. Nor did the media publish and debate it. Doesn't this raise suspicion?
It was only some days back when Team Kejriwal said this in their press conference, all were overwhelmed. All news channels had this issue being debated in the prime time. Go behind Vadra and DLF, why shoot the messenger? After all he is just asking for a fair trial to happen in this case.
Kejriwal has promised to expose another case of corruption on 10.10.2012. Eagerly waiting for that.
Jai Hind!
The allegations made by the activists was that DLF gave properties valued at Rs.300 crore to Vadra at undervalued rates. They also said that Vadra's company with a capital of Rs.50 lakh and with no obvious revenue stream, got an unsecured interest free loan of Rs. 65 crore from DLF. Activists allege a quid pro quo where Vadra, using Sonia's political office may have managed to do favours to DLF.
The details put out in the public in a press conference by Kejriwal and Bhushan was already exposed months back by the national daily - Economic Times.
Media accuses Kejriwal of having taken an immoral and unfair stand by raking up this issue again.
Media questions Kejriwal's attack on the individual Vadra. Media is seeming to forget the fact that Vadra is no simple citizen. He is the son in-law of our nation's one of the most powerful political figures. This very fact makes the issue big. Also the fact that Vadra could have used his mother in-law's clout to make things easy for DLF cannot be brushed under the carpet.
Media accusers Kejriwal of having painted Vadra dark by not giving the latter an opportunity to clear his stand. People in media say that Kejriwal should have spoken to Vadra prior to the expose.
Let us put things in perspective. Firstly, the media should understand that Vadra has a celebrity status. It is said that he is not frisked in airports! How can such a person, especially of the Gandhi family, be contacted by an 'aam aadmi' like Kejriwal? Secondly, all accept, including Kejriwal himself that this issue was first made public by Economic Times months back. Did any of the people in the media and politics who raise such questions now, ask the editor of the Economic Times if he had spoken to Vadra before the news was published? Thirdly, 're-expose' by team Kejriwal was made only after they confirmed the facts by going through the account books of Vadra. Who in the world makes an expose after seeking permission from the people involved? Are the hidden camera exposes made by media aired after seeking permission from the people taped and showed in it?
Media also accuses Kejriwal of using his celebrity to revive this and bring this issue to the fore. I would like to ask what is wrong in using one's celebrity, to bring to the fore, an issue involving corruption tot he tune of crores of Rupees? Be it Vadra or Chandra, Sonia's son in-law or someone else's, corruption is corruption and it needs to be not only exposed but also investigated impartially.
Media should now get into the merits of the case rather than accusing Team Kejriwal for raking this issue. The media should go through the account books of Vadra and make it public. It should interview Vadra and the concerned DLF personnel.
Lot many ministers, including some of the cabinet ministers came out in the media to slam Kejriwal and render support to Vadra. None dared to speak about the case's merit. No opposition party raised this issue when it was published in the Economic Times months back. Nor did the media publish and debate it. Doesn't this raise suspicion?
It was only some days back when Team Kejriwal said this in their press conference, all were overwhelmed. All news channels had this issue being debated in the prime time. Go behind Vadra and DLF, why shoot the messenger? After all he is just asking for a fair trial to happen in this case.
Kejriwal has promised to expose another case of corruption on 10.10.2012. Eagerly waiting for that.
Jai Hind!
