BJP targets Sonia over allegations against former UPA minister Praful Patel

Citing reports alleging that Praful Patel was involved in a property deal with 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts accused Iqbal Mirchi, the BJP on Monday questioned his induction in the UPA government and asked Congress president Sonia Gandhi to clarify if there was any "quid pro quo".

NCP leader Patel was a member of the Union Cabinet and served as civil aviation minister from 2004 to 2009 in the first term of the UPA government led by the Congress. Gandhi had served as the UPA chairperson.

The NCP has rejected the allegation against Patel, while the Congress said there is a BJP government at the centre which can get the matter investigated.

Addressing a press conference here, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra asked the Congress to come clean on the allegation of land deal between Patel and Mirchi, a close aide of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim who was declared a global terrorist.

"There are documents available showing Patel and Hazara, the wife of Iqbal Mirchi, having signatures on the same papers, indicating they had an agreement over a property deal. What was the quid pro quo with Sonia Gandhi for inducting Patel in the Union Cabinet?"