ED Chargesheet Against Gandhis Sparks Protests
The Congress workers gathered in large numbers outside the AICC headquarters at 24 Akbar Road, shouted slogans of “Sonia Gandhi Zindabad”, “Rahul Gandhi Zindabad”, “Tanashahi nahi chalegi” and “Modi-Shah jawab do”
New Delhi: A day after ED chargesheeted Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald money laundering case, the party launched a nationwide stir. The Congress workers courted arrest across the states as the party claimed that the ED chargesheet against the Gandhis only shows the government's panic and moral bankruptcy and said it will not be cowed down by such threats.
Leading the charge, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that the "despotic" government is hell-bent on targeting the Congress to whitewash its own "sins". In retort, the BJP said that the Congress has a right to protest but has no right to "loot land and public funds”. “The Gandhis must explain how National Herald, which was started by freedom fighters, turned into a private entity,” asked the BJP.
Addressing a press conference along with senior leader Abhishek Singhvi, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh alleged that this "politics of vendetta" has been masterminded by two people.
"For the last two days, politics of vendetta, harassment and intimidation have been going on. The Congress leadership, especially Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, has been deliberately targeted," he said.
"Efforts are being made to divert attention from public issues, foreign policy and economic crises. The masterminds of this politics of vendetta are two people… We will not be silent. We cannot be silenced. Whatever the Prime Minister and Union home minister do, we will not stay silent and we will keep raising these issues of the people," he said.
Mr Ramesh said a fake narrative is being run that there has been a crime or money laundering. He said if there is a crime, it is on the part of those who have masterminded these allegations.
Mr Singhvi said the case is nothing but a "vendetta in legal disguise".
"Selective justice is nothing but political thuggery," he said.
The Congress workers gathered in large numbers outside the AICC headquarters at 24 Akbar Road, shouted slogans of “Sonia Gandhi Zindabad”, “Rahul Gandhi Zindabad”, “Tanashahi nahi chalegi” and “Modi-Shah jawab do”.
A heavy police presence and barricading were in place. Several Congress workers, including Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav, were detained.
The demonstration saw participation from party leaders, including MPs, workers and members of Congress-affiliated organisations such as the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and National Students' Union of India (NSUI).
Congress general secretary Sachin Pilot called the case “politically motivated” and devoid of substance. “We have full faith in the judiciary. This matter has been dragged on for years without proof. The government has failed to present any concrete evidence yet continues to target our leadership,” he said, asserting that the party will fight the case both legally and politically. The protests were carried out against the ED action in all state capitals.
Hitting back at the Congress, the BJP said no one has a "license to loot" and dismissed the Congress' charge of vendetta. Condemning the Congress's remarks against the ED and accusations of politics by the NDA government, the BJP asked Mrs Gandhi and Mr Gandhi how National Herald, which was started by freedom fighters, turned into a private entity. The ruling party said the Congress has a right to protest but does not have a right to misappropriate public property given by the government to the National Herald.
"The National Herald, launched in 1937 with 5,000 shareholders, was never the personal property of the Nehru family. In 2008, it ceased publication due to financial losses. Following this, the Congress party gave `90 crores to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), which published the Herald. However, using party funds for a private company is prohibited. When AJL failed to repay the loan, a corporate conspiracy was orchestrated to transfer its valuable assets to the Gandhi family," said senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.
