Gehlot defends Vadra, says BJP is making him a 'political issue'

ALLAHABAD: Former chief minister of Rajasthan and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Sunday came out in defense of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's husband Robert Vadra and condemned Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using him as a 'political issue.' "During my tenure as chief minister, Rajasthan government undertook all sorts of probes and investigations but nothing objectionable was unearthed," he said and claimed, "BJP has panicked and is leveling bogus allegations."

Talking exclusively to TOI, Gehlot said Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje was free to conduct further investigations. "Let the truth come out," he said. The former chief minister rejected the notion that Modi wave was sweeping across the country and said, "Modi is full of arrogance. He should not have been made a prime ministerial candidate." He further said that the Modi's body language was not fit for prime minister's post. He also accused Modi of lowering the standards of campaigning.

The senior Congress leader felt that Modi's popularity graph was on the downslide and "the bubble of Gujarat model of development was bursting with every phase of voting." Commending Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for "dedication towards country," Gehlot said that Rahul was the only person trying to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.

Claiming that the people of Rae Bareli and Amethi were well aware of the development taking place in their areas, he said that the BJP and other parties had been crying hoarse of the issue.