A day after Indian National Lok Dal chief Om Prakash Chautala accused Rahul Gandhi of tax evasion in a land deal in Haryana's Palwal district, the Congress on Thursday strongly defended its general secretary and cautioned political parties against trading low-level allegations.
"It can be probed by anyone in any manner," party senior general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said, adding a detailed written statement has already been issued in this regard.
In a press conference in Jalandhar on Wednesday, Chautala had also demanded investigation into Gandhi's land deal by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court.
But Gandhi's office was quick to issue a strong point-by-point rebuttal of Chautala's allegations and denied all charges of stamp duty evasion in the deal as "entirely false, utterly baseless and defamatory".
Dwivedi's colleague Rashid Alvi earlier asked Chautala to "look within before making baseless allegations" against others. "Chautala should think about himself and his sons first rather than making allegations against others," he said.
Alvi clarified that Gandhi had purchased the land and paid the amount for it as well as the duty on it. "What is wrong in it?" he asked.
Expressing concern over "baseless and low-level allegations" against politicians, Dwivedi underlined the need for those in politics to ponder over it. "All political parties especially the major ones, should become cautious," he said.
{{/usCountry}}Expressing concern over "baseless and low-level allegations" against politicians, Dwivedi underlined the need for those in politics to ponder over it. "All political parties especially the major ones, should become cautious," he said.
{{/usCountry}}Briefing reporters a day after Arvind Kejriwal targeted BJP chief Nitin Gadkari over a controversial land deal in Maharashtra, Dwivedi said: "One gets the punishment from the same weapon with which he hits another...the Congress has never used such weapons."
Dwivedi also used the occasion to flag concern over the misuse of RTI brought by the Congress, saying it is being used some times for "blackmailing, paralysing the administration, meeting selfish ends, revenge and political reasons".
At the same time, the Congress leader clarified he was not against the act.
Dwivedi also cautioned the media against "falling to sensation" in reporting when asked as to why
there should not be a probe into the Robert Vadra-DLF land deal.
"Nobody has declined any probe. That is also being examined," he said, referring to a committee constituted by the Haryana government to examine the charges levelled by IAS officer Ashok Khemka in this regard.