Sonia Gandhi’s second round of questioning by the Enforcement Directorate in the National Herald case brought Congress leaders and workers to the streets earlier today. The Congress chief, 75, was questioned for almost six hours today and asked her to appear again tomorrow in connection with the alleged financial irregularities in the Congress-supported Young Indian Private Ltd, which owns the National Herald newspaper.
Congress workers staged “satyagraha” across the country, demonstrating against the alleged misuse of central agencies to reign in the Opposition.
Also read: National Herald case: Sonia Gandhi reaches ED office, questioning begins
“India is a police state and Modi is a king,” Rahul Gandhi said as he was led away by the police. He and the other Congress leaders were released once Sonia Gandhi left ED office.
SONIA GANDHI’S QUESTIONING
Sonia Gandhi was asked to respond to a set of nearly 30 questions around her involvement with the National Herald newspaper and the Young Indian Pvt Ltd, officials said.
The Congress chief was questioned for nearly two and a half hours at the ED office and officials stopped for a 90-minute lunch break. She was allowed to leave around 7 PM.
Sonia Gandhi reached the ED office this morning with her armed security cover, accompanied by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. As Rahul Gandhi left for the protest, Priyanka Gandhi stayed back at the agency’s office in case her mother needed any medical assistance.
Also watch: Sonia Gandhi’s grilling: Youth Congress workers create ruckus at ED’s office in Indore
Last time, Sonia Gandhi was questioned for a little over two hours when she responded to a set of 28 questions. She reiterated that the Young Indian was a non-profit company and that the party made no personal gains through it.
She was also asked about the functioning and running of the newspaper, the role of its office bearers, and her family’s participation in the running of the paper and the firm under scanner.
RAHUL GANDHI’S QUESTIONING
Sonia Gandhi’s son Rahul Gandhi was questioned for over 50 hours spread across five days last month.
PROTESTS
Condemning the agency’s action, Congress called it a “political vendetta”. The Delhi Police made a massive deployment and cordoned off the lane from Sonia Gandhi’s residence to the ED office to prevent a law and order situation. Restrictions were imposed on the movement of traffic in the area.
Rahul Gandhi and Congress MPs gathered at the Vijay Chowk to march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan to draw the President’s attention to the alleged misuse of central agencies by the government when they were stopped by the police, reported news agency PTI.
“I am not going anywhere. We wanted to go towards the President’s house. But the police are not allowing us,” Gandhi had said.
The Delhi Police and personnel of the security forces were caught on camera, manhandling Congress workers and leaders.
Also read: Rahul Gandhi, detained for protest against Sonia Gandhi’s questioning by ED, released
Srinivas BV, the national president of the Youth Congress, was seen being pulled out of his car by the Delhi Police, who tugged at his hair in gruesome visuals from the Congress’s protest in the national capital. The police were seen pushing and shoving the leader inside their car as he tried to speak to the media gathered there.
“Mujhe maar kyun rahe ho (Why are you hitting me?),” the leader is seen screaming at the police, who later try to calm him, saying, “Koi nahi marega (no one will hit you).”
The video also showed a few Rapid Action Force personnel pressing the car door shut as Srinivas attempted to climb out.
Soon after the video was shared several times on social media, the Delhi Police vowed action against its officers and said, “We are trying to identify the staff. Disciplinary action would be initiated against the staff after identification.”
THE NATIONAL HERALD CASE
The Gandhis are being questioned in connection with the alleged financial irregularities in the Congress-supported Young Indian Private Ltd, which owns the National Herald newspaper.
There has been no wrongdoing, the Congress has always maintained. According to the party, Young Indian Pvt Ltd was established under section 25 of the Companies Act. Hence there can be no question of money laundering, it said.
According to the financial probe agency, assets worth around Rs 800 crore are “owned” by the Associated Journals Limited and the agency wants to know from the Gandhis how Young Indian, being a non-profit, as claimed by the Gandhis, undertook commercial activities, like renting its land and building assets.
(With inputs from PTI)
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