BJP Defends Legal Action Against Congress Leaders Amid National Herald Controversy
BJP Responds to Congress Allegations
New Delhi: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) firmly rejected the Congress party's claims of political vendetta following the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. BJP leader and former law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad emphasized that the Modi administration will ensure that the law is upheld, regardless of any threats from the opposition.
During a press briefing, Prasad urged Congress to address the serious allegations against the Gandhis rather than merely responding politically. He pointed out that the Congress party has not received any judicial relief in its attempts to contest the investigation.
The primary accusation against the Gandhis involves their alleged misappropriation of substantial real estate assets owned by the Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which published the National Herald newspaper, as they hold a 76% stake in Young India.
Prasad acknowledged Congress's right to protest against the ED's actions but clarified that this does not extend to the misappropriation of public properties allocated to the National Herald.
He accused the Congress of intimidating the investigative agency and questioned whether they respect the legal process.
"We denounce the threats from Congress. The Modi government will allow the law to proceed as it should," he stated.
He further explained that Young India had forgiven a Rs 90 crore loan from Congress to AJL, gaining ownership of the company for a mere Rs 50 lakhs.
The land in question was provided to AJL by the government, and Prasad alleged that the National Herald was exploited by the Congress for financial gain through advertisements and properties.
He remarked, "A newspaper founded during the freedom struggle to represent those opposing British rule has now become a profit-making venture for the Congress party."
In a critical tone, he referred to this as the "Gandhi model of development," alluding to allegations against Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law, Robert Vadra, regarding a profitable land deal in Haryana involving the previous Congress government.
Originally launched in the 1930s with 5,000 shareholders as a voice for the freedom movement, the National Herald has allegedly been reduced to a personal asset of the Nehru-Gandhi family.
Prasad claimed that historical figures like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Chandra Bhanu Gupta had expressed concerns about the management of the now-defunct newspaper.
The Enforcement Directorate has filed a chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others in a special court, accusing them of laundering Rs 988 crore.
In response, the Congress party labeled the ED's actions as politically motivated and described the asset seizures as a "state-sponsored crime disguised as lawful governance."