A Feast of Vultures: The Hidden Business of Democracy in India

by Josy Joseph

In the summer of 2004, when the BJP government suffered an unexpected defeat and the Sonia Gandhi-led Congress coalition swept to power, Sonia Gandhi chose Dr Manmohan Singh to be prime minister. However, it was not long before Robert Vadra – another son-in-law, this one married to Priyanka Gandhi, the daughter of Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi – and his undue influence began to be spoken of. Over the decade that the Congress-led government was in power, there was no concrete proof of Vadra’s involvement in manipulating government contracts. However, several people who had major dealings with the government continued speaking about his influence. He would occasionally make an appearance at a glamorous evening party or in a lifestyle magazine, but there was little else to show for his influence. What emerged eventually was that Vadra had amassed crores in a matter of a few years, thanks to the benevolence of DLF, one of India’s biggest construction companies, and the support of Congress-ruled state governments.