National Herald case: Charges against Sonia, Rahul mischievous, says Cong

New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday dismissed as “politically motivated, mischievous and malicious” the case of alleged misappropriation and fraud against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and asserted that it will give a “very firm and robust response” to BJP leader Subramanian Swamy. [caption id=“attachment_1591151” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Sonia (left) and Rahul Gandhi were charged with fraud in the National Herald case. PTI[/caption] Asserting that the party would not be cowed down by such “revengeful witch-hunts”, it also cautioned the NDA government over the issue as it wondered from where Swamy is getting financial support to continue with his “document peddling.” The Congress response came close on the heels of Sonia and Rahul being summoned as accused by a local court for alleged cheating and misappropriation of funds in acquiring ownership of the now-defunct daily National Herald. Holding that complainant Swamy has established a prima facie case of cheating, misappropriation of funds and criminal breach of trust against the accused, Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati Manocha also issued summons also to AICC Treasurer Moti Lal Vohra, General Secretary Oscar Fernandes, and Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda, besides the Gandhis, to appear before the court on 7 August. Asked whether Congress will file a defamation suit against Swamy, Sharma said,“we will show him his true place”. Sharma said that Swamy is known to be a “habitual petition writer and document peddler” who has not even spared the BJP and RSS leadership and has said “most scandalous things” against BJP leaders inlcuding Atal Behari Vajpayee. “BJP and RSS should be more concerned that they have such an element with them. If they say his actions are in the right course then what about his past allegations,” Sharma asked. Ridiculing Swamy, he said that while a number of leaders have become Ministers in the NDA Government, he was still on the road doing all these things and resorting to such “cheap theatrics” to draw the attention of RSS and BJP. “They will get a very robust response and we will show them where they are….We will respond to it legally. The question is of maintainability,” he said, adding that Swamy had made a similar petition to the Election Commission in 2012, which was rejected by the poll panel. Another party spokesman Randeep Surjewala said “Swamy and the BJP must understand that neither the Nehru-Gandhi family nor Indian National Congress will get cowed down by such revengeful witch-hunts.” PTI