Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel of "hiding" behind "misleading" statements over the land allotment row, Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia today demanded Anandiben's resignation to ensure a fair probe.
A decision by Gujarat government to allot land five years back to a company which allegedly has close business links with Anar Patel, daughter of Anandiben, has kicked up a political storm with Congress using it to attack Modi.
"The truth is that the Prime Minister and the Gujarat CM are hiding behind innocuous and misleading statements being issued by Dakshesh Shah, business associate of Anar Patel.
"To ensure the credibility of high office of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi must come forward and submit himself to a thorough probe through SIT monitored by Supreme Court. To ensure a fair probe, Anandiben Patel must resign forthwith," Modhwadia, a former Gujarat Congress Committee president, said in a statement.
He alleged "nepotism, conflict of interest and blatant plundering of public land by government of Gujarat led by the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel to perpetuate profiteering and commercial interests have been adequately placed in public domain".
However, "shockingly, Modi and Patel have maintained silence. Instead of replying to the pointed questions by Congress, they have chosen to hide behind a factually incorrect and misleading statement...Is this the 'zero tolerance for corruption and commitment to transparency and accountability' promised by Modi as his principal electoral rhetoric?" the Congress leader said.
