Hitting back at Rahul Gandhi, the Centre on Wednesday dared him to give proof in Parliament on his allegations against the government and the PMO on National Herald issue instead of wasting time of the House, after the Congress stalled proceedings alleging political vendetta.
Soon after Mr. Gandhi alleged that the National Herald case is “hundred per cent political vendetta coming out of PMO”, Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy said Mr. Gandhi “did not have enough courage” to speak in Parliament on the issue.
“He (Rahul) is instrumental in disrupting the House. Court has taken some cognisance against him and Sonia Gandhi. They are trying to become a hero after the charges against them and at the same time they do not have enough courage to come inside the House and say what they are speaking outside to the media.
“We should ask Rahul Gandhi, if he has courage enough, if he has honesty enough, if he has standing as a leader of his political party, he should come to Parliament and give proof of the statement he has made against the judiciary.
“The proof of the statement he has made against the government and the PMO... he should come and give an explanation in the House and the proof of what he is talking,” Mr. Rudy said.
“The House or government has nothing got to do with this case either directly or indirectly. It’s a court decision. Wasting Parliament’s time is not good for democracy,” Union Minister Nitin Gadkari told reporters outside Parliament.
Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Mr. Gandhi, have been summoned by a Delhi court on December 19 on a complaint by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against them for alleged cheating and misappropriation of funds in taking control of the now-defunct National Herald newspaper.
National Herald Case
What - Subramanian Swamy, the then Janata Party president, knocked the court's door raising questions over acquisition of a company that published the now-defunct National Herald newspaper to which Congress gave a loan of over Rs 90 crore.
Who - Dr. Swamy alleged that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi had floated a Section 25 company called ‘Young Indian’, which acquired Associated Journals, founded by late Jawaharlal Nehru, that published the National Herald and Quami Awaz.
How - Dr. Swamy claimed it was illegal for Congress, a political party, to give loans for commercial purposes. Young Indian wrote off the loans due to Congress for a mere Rs 50 lakh and by a board resolution, the Associate Journals is sold by transfer of shares to Young Indian, which is not a newspaper or journal producing company.
Why - The deal, Dr. Swamy alleged, was to grab prized property like Herald House in Delhi and other properties of the Associated Journals in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
Then - Rahul Gandhi threatened legal action against Dr. Swamy. Congress challenged Dr. Swamy to prove his allegations in a court of law. As Dr. Following Dr. Swamy's plea, a Delhi court ordered the Gandhis to appear before it on August 7, which was challenged in High Court.
Next Sonia Gandhi, son Rahul Gandhi and others are directed to appear in person on December 19 by a Delhi court on Tuesday.
Soon after Mr. Gandhi alleged that the National Herald case is “hundred per cent political vendetta coming out of PMO”, Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy said Mr. Gandhi “did not have enough courage” to speak in Parliament on the issue.
“He (Rahul) is instrumental in disrupting the House. Court has taken some cognisance against him and Sonia Gandhi. They are trying to become a hero after the charges against them and at the same time they do not have enough courage to come inside the House and say what they are speaking outside to the media.
“We should ask Rahul Gandhi, if he has courage enough, if he has honesty enough, if he has standing as a leader of his political party, he should come to Parliament and give proof of the statement he has made against the judiciary.
“The proof of the statement he has made against the government and the PMO... he should come and give an explanation in the House and the proof of what he is talking,” Mr. Rudy said.
“The House or government has nothing got to do with this case either directly or indirectly. It’s a court decision. Wasting Parliament’s time is not good for democracy,” Union Minister Nitin Gadkari told reporters outside Parliament.
Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Mr. Gandhi, have been summoned by a Delhi court on December 19 on a complaint by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against them for alleged cheating and misappropriation of funds in taking control of the now-defunct National Herald newspaper.
National Herald Case
What - Subramanian Swamy, the then Janata Party president, knocked the court's door raising questions over acquisition of a company that published the now-defunct National Herald newspaper to which Congress gave a loan of over Rs 90 crore.
Who - Dr. Swamy alleged that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi had floated a Section 25 company called ‘Young Indian’, which acquired Associated Journals, founded by late Jawaharlal Nehru, that published the National Herald and Quami Awaz.
How - Dr. Swamy claimed it was illegal for Congress, a political party, to give loans for commercial purposes. Young Indian wrote off the loans due to Congress for a mere Rs 50 lakh and by a board resolution, the Associate Journals is sold by transfer of shares to Young Indian, which is not a newspaper or journal producing company.
Why - The deal, Dr. Swamy alleged, was to grab prized property like Herald House in Delhi and other properties of the Associated Journals in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
Then - Rahul Gandhi threatened legal action against Dr. Swamy. Congress challenged Dr. Swamy to prove his allegations in a court of law. As Dr. Following Dr. Swamy's plea, a Delhi court ordered the Gandhis to appear before it on August 7, which was challenged in High Court.
Next Sonia Gandhi, son Rahul Gandhi and others are directed to appear in person on December 19 by a Delhi court on Tuesday.
HAPPY Mahatma Gandhi Birth Anniversary