New Delhi, April 16 (H.S.): Politics has escalated over the ED’s charge sheet in the National Herald case. Congress protests nationwide, while BJP counters, accusing the Gandhi family of seizing property illegally.
During a press conference at BJP headquarters on Wednesday, MP Ravi Shankar Prasad accused the Congress party of being in turmoil and planning nationwide protests. He acknowledged their right to protest but emphasized that they do not have the right to misappropriate land and funds. Prasad explained that the National Herald newspaper, established in 1937 with 5,000 shareholders, was never owned by the Nehru family. The publication ceased in 2008 due to unsustainability, after which Congress allegedly provided ₹90 crores to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the publisher. He accused the Gandhi family of corrupt practices, including manipulating shares and taking government properties while illegally transferring assets to their name.
He highlighted the creation of a new entity called Young Indian, owned significantly by Rahul and Sonia Gandhi, as a way to facilitate this transfer. Prasad questioned why the law should not act against the Congress leaders, given the alleged illegal seizure of properties worth thousands of crores. He cited examples of property acquisitions undervalued in comparison to their market prices, referring to such maneuvers as the “Gandhi model of development.”
Prasad reminded the audience that Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are currently out on bail and have attempted to hinder investigations over the past four years without satisfactory disclosures. He dismissed Congress’s ongoing protests as futile, declaring that neither the party nor its leaders are above the law. This controversy traces back to a complaint filed on November 1, 2012, by BJP leader Dr. Subramanian Swamy, alleging that the Gandhi leaders were involved in fraudulent schemes to control AJL through Young Indian, in violation of electoral and tax laws. Despite repeated legal attempts to seek relief, Congress’s challenges have been unsuccessful.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
