BJP's 'telescopic' view on Rahul Gandhi's nomination papers
New Delhi, Mar 24 (UNI): Even as Congress leaders have given a hint that party president Rahul Gandhi is 'considering' suggestions to contest from a second seat in South India besides Amethi, the BJP on Sunday sought to mount pressure on him saying "a telescopic view" will be maintained on his nomination papers.
"The people in the country and also the BJP will keep a telescopic view on the nomination of Rahul Gandhi... Where ever he contests elections," BJP spokesman Sambit Patra told reporters here.
For the second consecutive day, BJP leaders Ravi Shankar Prasad - on Saturday - and Mr Patra on Sunday alleged that Rahul Gandhi's income which was Rs 55 lakh in 2009, grew to Rs 2 crore in 2009 and Rs 9 crore in 2014.
"Where are the assets of 'non-performing' asset coming from? Where does millions of rupees come from to the family which does not do any work?" said Patra.
"Rahul Gandhi is profiteering from scams, dubious deals, links with arms dealers, hiding facts from Election Commission," he said.
BJP sources said misleading Election Commission on basic information about a candidate and especially income would mean violation of rules and could invite "administrative actions".
Speaking on similar vein, Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said: "We would like to know what are your sources of income Mr Rahul Gandhi."
BJP spokesman Patra, who will be contesting from Puri in Odisha, said: "How can an MP, who is not a professional, have such a jump in his income?"
Patra also challenged Rahul Gandhi to file a defamation case or reply to his questions.
He alleged there is a five-acre farm House in Delhi's Mehrauli area called Indira Farm House with 5 acre area in the name of Mr Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Vadra and they get a rent of Rs 6.7 lakh a month.
Mr Gandhi rented his farm house to a fake company which was involved in NSEL scam, he said adding Mr Gandhi has written in his election affidavit that the farm house in Gurugram was worth Rs 9 lakh but they are drawing rent in crores.
The BJP leader also said Mr Gandhi had bought two commercial properties in Gurugram's Signature Towers 2 whose proprietor was Unitech, a company involved in the 2G spectrum scam.
He said for the Rs 7 crore property only Rs 4 crore was paid and Mr Gandhi took interest from the amount and asked why the payment was made.
Dr Patra also questioned a property of Mr Gandhi in London in which he has 83 per cent stake and alleged that he was hiding facts from Election Commission.
"Rahul Gandhi and Robert Vadra are synonymous," he said. "Why did you cheat 'chowkidars' like Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax department and CBI?"
In Amethi, the seat he has been representing since 2004, Rahul Gandhi will be locked in a fierce contest against Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani.
Meanwhile, there were reports that Mr Gandhi could opt for Wayanad parliamentary segment in Kerala as his second seat.
Taunting the Congress president, Ms Irani used a hashtag 'Bhag Rahul Bhag' and wrote in Hindi - "Amethi ne bhagaya ......(Amethi is forcing Rahul Gandhi to make an exit)".
Amethi is a known Congress bastion for the past few decades now. In 2014, Ms Irani had contested unsuccessfully against Rahul Gandhi.
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