Ahmedabad, June 12
Congress national spokesperson Pawan Khera on Sunday claimed that there was “political vendetta” behind the Enforcement Directorate’s notice to party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case as they fearlessly questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
State party president Jagdish Thakor said that Gujarat Congress workers will protest outside the ED office in Ahmedabad on Monday over the issue.
The ED had issued summons to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi in a money laundering case related to the National Herald-Associated Journals Ltd deal. Rahul Gandhi will appear before ED in Delhi on Monday.
“There is not a single penchant of illegal activity. Despite this, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi were served notices by the ED for a week with a view to grab some headlines out of political vendetta,” Khera told reporters at the Congress office here.
“We should learn from Prime Minister Narendra Modi how to manage headlines. Our leaders will respect the ED’s notice and go to its office with pride and fearlessness as they have not done anything wrong,” he said.
Kheda claimed that the ruling BJP is trying to suppress voices that raise questions on PM Modi.
He alleged that BJP is spending crores of rupees to malign Rahul Gandhi’s image as he questions the PM without any fear.
But, Rahul Gandhi will not bow down, Khera said, adding that he will continue to question PM Modi.
Gujarat Congress President Jagdish Thakor said party leaders and workers from across Gujarat will gather at the helmet circle in Ahmedabad on Monday and march to the ED office to protest against the notice to their leaders.
Khera said that between 2002 and 2011, the Congress provided an interest-free loan of Rs 90 crore to AJL, which publishes the National Herald newspaper, to pay off its debt.
He said, “There was no law that says he cannot do this. Even when BJP leader Subramanian Swamy wrote to the Election Commission highlighting this, it told them that there was nothing illegal in it. Is.”
The debt was later converted into equity shares and a not-for-profit company ‘Young India’ was formed, whose board members included Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, Kheda said.
“Since it was a non-profit company, the board of directors were not entitled to salary, dividend and share of profits, and hence, there was nothing illegal in it,” he said.
What’s wrong with BJP when the Election Commission said it was not illegal? Khera asked.