image

Rahul Gandhi drags Modi in National Herald case, alleges vendetta by PMO

by IBNS 09 Dec 2015, 10:57 am

New Delhi, Dec 9 (IBNS) Upping the ante over the National Herald fund misuse case and dragging PM Modi directly into its vortex, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the office of Prime Minister (PMO) of engineering a political vendetta against the Gandhis hinting that even the judiciary is being used by the PMO to target him and his mother.

On the court direction to appear before it on Dec 19, Rahul Gandhi outside the Parliament said, "It is a 100% political vendetta coming out of PM's Office."

Gandhi also said that he has full faith in the country's judicial system. "I have full faith in the country's judicial system. let's see what happens."

Answering question from media persons outside the Parliament, Gandhi said, "It is a politically motivated case."

Retorting to Gandhi's claim, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, union Skill development Minister, said, "Rahul should come to Parliament and give proof of what he alleged" against the judiciary and the PMO.

Meanwhile, the Parliament too was not void of ruckus as Congress Leader Mallikarjun Kharge took on the BJP government.

Kharge lashed out at the government against the backdrop of dissent by the Congress MPs, caused by the Delhi HC's summon to Sonia and Rahul Gandhi over the misplacement of funds in the 'National Herald' case.

Kharge alleged that the rules for the opposition and the ruling party were not equal.

"There are different rules for the ruling and opposition party," he said in Parliament.

He also alleged that while the Congress ministers and workers were booked, the law allowed BJP followers and leaders to go free.
 
"While no cases have been registered against BJP rulers, there have been false cases against the Congress Ministers," Kharge said.

Kharge also said that the BJP is trying to plant fear into others but it will not work.

Mentioning V K Singh's quote in which he allegedly compared Dalits with that of dogs, Kharge said, "Someone who does not have respect for backward castes should be removed from the government."

BJP leader Venkiah Naidu, retorted to such claims and said, that Congress need not teach them a lesson as they have themselves for many years done the same to their opposition.

Naidu further said that Congress should respect the mandate and not create such a ruckus, for issues they themselves are not very sure of.  

Earlier, giving a blow to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi, the Delhi High Court had dismissed  their petition which asked to cancel lower court's summons issued against them in connection with the National Herald newspaper case.
 
The National Herald newspaper was established in Lucknow on Sept 9, 1938 by first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, great-grandfather of Rahul Gandhi. The paper finally ceased operations in 2008.
 
 The National Herald, before its closure was being run by Associated Journals. There were reports that the paper was being revived under journalist Suman Dubey, technocrat Sam Pitroda and the newly incorporated, Sonia Gandhi-owned Young India Company headquartered at Herald House.
 
 The paper was to have come out by Children’s Day in 2011 but Rahul Gandhi, a member of the board of the Young India Company, had denied any plans on the part of the company to revive the paper.
 
The Congress said Sonia Gandhi and  Rahul Gandhi will appear in Delhi court on Dec 19 in National Herald newspaper property case.
 
 Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi might move the Supreme Court in the case of the paper where they were accused of acquiring National Herald property worth Rs. 5,000 crore though a caveat has been filed against that by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy. 
 
Media reports quoted Sonia Gandhi saying "I leave it on you to judge" when asked about the case and she reportedly said being the daughter-in-law of Indira Gandhi she is not afraid.
 
Top BJP leaders on the other hand said the Gandhis should face court.