Robert Vadra | |
|---|---|
 Vadra in 2019 | |
| Born | 18 April 1969 Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Businessperson |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | See Nehru–Gandhi family |
Robert Vadra (born 18 April 1969) is an Indian entrepreneur, and the husband of Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi. [1] [2]
Robert Vadra was born in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, [3] to Rajendra Vadra and Maureen on 18 April 1969. His father's family is of Punjabi descent and settled in Moradabad. [4] His paternal family is originally from Sialkot in present-day Pakistan. Rajendra's father moved to India at the time of partition. [5]
Robert Vadra's mother, Maureen (née McDonagh), is of Anglo-Indian origin, with roots stretching back to Scotland. Rajendra was a resident of Civil Lines, Moradabad, and ran a diamond trading business along with brass and wood handicrafts. Rajendra Vadra has only completed his high school education. [6]
Robert Vadra studied at The British School, New Delhi. [7] His brother Richard died by suicide, and his sister Michelle died in a car accident in 2001. [8] [9] His father was found dead on April 3, 2009, in City Inn, a guest house in the Yusuf Sarai area of Delhi.
He is husband of Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi. [1] [2] He is the son-in-law of former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi and the brother-in-law of Rahul Gandhi.
In January 2002, Vadra issued a notice in print newspaper distancing himself from his father and brother as they were misusing his relationship with the Nehru–Gandhi family to make money while promising jobs and other favours. [10] Following this, Sonia Gandhi, the then Congress president also issued a notice to all Congress CMs, state unit heads and senior party members to stay away from Vadra and his family. [11]
Until 2012, while Vadra was mostly in the background, he became a target for several opposition parties after the 2012 anti-corruption movement, India against corruption made allegations against him. [12] These allegations got further politicization after several instances of Congress party spokespersons defending allegations on Vadra, stating he was a soft target. [13]
While Vadra is not into INC active politics he has been actively campaigning for his brother-in-law Rahul Gandhi and mother-in-law Sonia Gandhi. In the Lok Sabha elections of 2019, he campaigned actively across India for several candidates. [14] On his 50th birthday, when asked about his intent to join active politics, Vadra stated it would happen 2–3 years later. [15] He mulled a run in the 2024 Indian general election, but did not file nomination. [16]
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