BJP attacks Vadra over journo incident

New Delhi, BJP today attacked Robert Vadra saying his “inappropriate” behaviour towards a journalist was a result of frustration and he must realise that the country is no longer ruled by the Gandhi family, even as the Congress downplayed the incident.

Vadra, Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law, had yesterday lost his cool and reportedly pushed aside the microphone of a reporter at a five-star hotel gym when he was quizzed about his controversial land deals in Haryana.

A livid Vadra was seen on a video footage shown on TV channels asking the reporter four times as to whether he was serious about his land deal question.

“It was the sheer frustration of Robert Vadra that became manifested as an inappropriate behaviour on a journalist. Vadra was the one who had called india a Banana Republic and we Indians as mango people but it is time that we make him realise that india is no more a Banana Republic which was ruled by the first family of the Congress,” BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said.

Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh said in Vadra’s defence that he was amazed by the media attention given to a “minor incident”.BJP

“Why (is) a private Citizen being unnecessarily hounded?,” he tweeted.

“If he has violated any law, prosecute him. If (he) has ill gotten wealth confiscate it, but this unnecessary media attention is not justified,” he posted in another tweet.

Asking the media not to target him, he said, “We Politicians are feeling jealous of the Media Attention which Robert is getting. We are the real Punching Bags for you. Spare him!”

However, senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain countered Singh saying that had Vadra been a private person he would not have got privileges.

“Vadra is not a private person. If he would have been a private person then he would not have got the privileges in Haryana, neither he would have got privileges at the Airport. He considers himself to be a very special person. According to Digvijay Singh, he is a private person. But his behaviour does not show that he is a private person,” Hussain said.

The way he has behaved with the mediaperson is very disappointing, he added.