Kejriwal says ready for defamation case if charges against Vadra false

India Against Corruption (IAC) leader Arvind Kejriwal today said that he is ready to face a defamation case if the corruption charges levied against Robert Vadra are proven false.

India Against Corruption (IAC) leader Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said that he is ready to face a defamation case if the corruption charges levied against Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, are proven false.

"I am ready to face defamation charges if the corruption charges against Robert Vadra are proven wrong. Why is the Congress silent on the merits of the case," Kejriwal asked while speaking with reporters in New Delhi.

Launching what he termed the 'bijli-paani satyagraha' in Delhi for the provision of water and electricity at a fair price, Kejriwal appealed to the people to stop paying electricity and water bills till the Delhi government withdrew tariff hikes.

"Everyone will have to be fearless. We have to rise, unite and fight against corruption. There is no opposition left in the country. The people are the opposition. I am here to spread awareness," he said.

Kejriwal said that he had got an electricity connection installed in the house of a labourer in the capital, but that connection was later cut, pending a Rs. 15,000 electricity bill.

He said that he had got that connection restored, and urged people to stand up and demand their due: "We got the electricity connection of the poor labourer today (Saturday). Everyone has to take charge now. If they disconnect electricity, let us all connect it. MPs, ex-MPs owe huge amounts to electricity companies. Still, their connections are not disconnected. Poor people are being terrorized. We shall fight," he said.

Kejriwal, who launched his political party Tuesday, alleged that Vadra had bought property in Gurgaon and other places at rates far below market rates and sold them at huge profit.

'Why Cong silent'

Coming out in support of Arvind Kejriwal on his allegations against Robert Vadra, Anna Hazare has also asked why Congress is fearing a judicial probe in the matter if they are sure that the charges are false.

"Many Congress leaders say that these allegations are only because of electoral compulsions and are baseless. We say that if the allegations are untrue, then why don't they order a judicial probe into it. And now if it is false, file a defamation case against Arvind. Truth will be out," he said.

Hazare's remarks came against the backdrop of Kejriwal levelling allegations on Friday that Vadra had bought property worth crores of rupees with an "unsecured interest free loan" of Rs 65 crore given by realty major DLF.

He said when they raised allegations against 15 'corrupt' ministers earlier, the government noted that there was no case in them. "Now, two of the ministers are out. The coal scam is out. Whole country has seen it," he said.

(With inputs from PTI, IANS)