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Ahead of Sonia, Rahul's apperance in court Congress leaders and supporters huddle at party headquarters

by IBNS 19 Dec 2015, 08:51 am

New Delhi, Dec. 19 (IBNS) A large number of Congress supporters have gathered at the party's headquarters in New Delhi as party president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi prepare for their court appearance in the National Herald case.

However, reports said cancelling its  plans of a protest march planned as a show of strength, the Congress has instead called its working committee members, office bearers and some lawmakers at the at its headquarters on Delhi's Akbar Road.

The leaders  charged the ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and Subramanian Swamy of political vendetta.

Reacting on the case, Congress spokesperson R S Surjewala said that they have gathered at the party headquarters just to show their respect for the Gandhians. He also charged the  Narendra Modi-led central government for making false accusations related with the case and slammed Subramanian Swamy for diverting people of the country from major issues. He said, “We all have gathered here to show respect for our party leaders. Whatever be the decision of the honourable court, we will take the verdict with full dignity," he said.


Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Vadra and son-in-law Robert Vadra will accompany Mrs Gandhi and son Rahul for their appearance in the Patiala House courts.  They will be standing as personal surety if required.

A heavy deployment of police, paramilitary and special protection group is on guard to prevent any disruptions at the Patiala House Courts. There are more than 700 security personnel with the arrangements being monitored with the help of CCTVs installed on Friday.

Meanwhile, ahead of the court hearing, Congress leader Singh tweeted:"BJP-RSS combine have always considered Nehruvian ideology and Nehru-Gandhi Family as biggest threat to their growth. They have run a sustained campaign against them. National Herald is another example of their vilification campaign against them. People of this Country would  give  them a fitting reply as they did earlier. Gandhi-Nehruvian ideology is ingrained in Indian ethos."

Taking a swipe at the Congress, Union Minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "National Herald case has no relation to the BJP or Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Court took cognizance before Modi government came to power."

Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, the mother-son duo, have been summoned by the trial court on a private criminal complaint of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy of cheating, criminal conspiracy, misappropriation of property and breach of trust on Saturday at 3pm. Swamy had filed the complaint in 2012.

Apart from Sonia Gandhi and Rahul, party treasurer Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, and Sam Pitroda who have been charged in the case.

Swamy alleges that properties worth Rs 5,000 crore belonging to the now-defunct newspaper were usurped by the Gandhis through fraudulent papers. He accused the Gandhis and others of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds by first loaning the money to AJL and then assigning the debt to YIL for Rs 50 lakh. This implies that Congress has written off the remaining Rs 89.5 crore.

National Herald newspaper was started by former prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1938 during the freedom struggle. It originally served as a mouthpiece of the Congress. Over the decades circulation and finances dropped, before it finally closed in 2008 with a debt of Rs 90 crore.

In 2014, the trial court asked Sonia and Rahul to appear in the case. On December 7, 2015, the high court dismissed their appeal and asked questions about the legality of the unsecured loan. They were also directed to appear before the trial court.