Bhubaneswar: The National Herald case has once again ignited political tensions in India, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filing a charge-sheet against prominent Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
This has led to widespread protests by Congress workers across the nation. In Odisha Hundreds of Congress workers and leaders converged outside the office of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) here this noon and held protests over the charge-sheet filed against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul in the National Herald money laundering case.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) members and leaders led by President Bhakta Charan Das took out a rally to the ED office here and tried to gherao the central agency office.
During the protest, the Congress members shuffle with the police personnel deployed at the ED office for the protest.
Key Points:
- ED Chargesheet:
- The ED has filed a chargesheet alleging that Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, along with other accused, acquired assets of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), the publisher of the National Herald newspaper, at a significantly undervalued price.
- The ED claims that the Gandhis, through Young Indian, acquired AJL’s assets worth ₹2,000 crore for a mere ₹50 lakh.
- The ED has also stated that the current market value of the assets linked to the money laundering case is valued at roughly 5,000 crore rupees.
- The ED has also taken steps to take possession of AJL properties valued at 661 crore rupees.
- Congress Protests:
- In response to the chargesheet, Congress workers and leaders have organized protests outside ED offices in various cities, including Bhubaneswar and New Delhi.
- Congress leaders have denounced the ED’s actions as “political vendetta” and an attempt by the ruling BJP government to harass opposition leaders.
- The Congress party members claim that the BJP is loosing public support, and are using these cases to try and sway the public.
- National Herald’s History:
- The National Herald newspaper was founded by Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister.
- The case revolves around the transfer of AJL’s assets to Young Indian, a “not-for-profit” company controlled by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.
- Legal Proceedings:
- Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are currently out on bail in this case.
- The Special Court has scheduled a hearing on 25 April to take cognisance of the Chargesheet.
- The ED has stated that they have found evidence of proceeds of crime worth 988 crore rupees.
- Political Reactions:
- The BJP has defended the ED’s actions, stating that the law is taking its course.
- The Congress party maintains that the case is politically motivated and aimed at suppressing the opposition.
In essence, the National Herald case has become a focal point of political contention in India, with both the Governing and Opposition parties trading accusations. The legal proceedings and political ramifications of this case are likely to continue to unfold in the coming days.