National Herald case: From ‘meek submission’ to aggressive defiance, Sonia and Rahul stick to the script

Click here for National Herald case timeline If there was an opportunity to galvanise the Congress rank and file over something as drab as appearing before a magistrate on a court summons, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul on Saturday grabbed it with both hands, playing the victim card with neat precision. Congress had carefully calibrated the buildup since morning.[caption id=“attachment_2552696” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The victory smile. Naresh Sharma/Firstpost[/caption] The day started with Congress leader Digvijaya Singh posting a series of tweets accusing the BJP of launching a “sustained vilification campaign” against Nehruvian ideology. A little later in the day as pictures kept emerging of cadres protesting in different parts of India, Congress spokespersons appeared before the media and launched a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of calling the shots while “hiding behind his stooge Subramanian Swamy”. The Congress strategy was clear. Engage the TV channels with incessant rhetoric and escalate the attack against BJP, training the gun specifically on Modi. The court strategy was being thrashed out at Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad’s residence where the Congress high command and senior arrived for one final meeting. As the clock neared 2.47 pm, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi arrived on the Patiala court premises. They preferred to get off from their vehicles on the C-Hexagon road that encircles India Gate in New Delhi, and walked a few paces into the court premises. Looking relaxed and smiling, the duo walked together allowing the waiting photographers and videographers a clear view. The not-so-subtle suggestion was that Congress’s First Family had carefully planned this moment. They wanted the visuals to be captured for posterity and for political use later. The optics of mother and son, the most politically privileged ‘two-some’ in the country, walking into court, submitting themselves to the court of law, was intended at sending a message of their “modesty” and “respect for the law”. These images are sure to play on TV screens for a long time and the Congress didn’t want to lose the opportunity to milk this event. At one point, Sonia Gandhi, clad in a maroon saree, even fell a step behind Rahul while trying to oblige a call from photographers. If the buildup had happened over a fortnight, the court proceedings were over in a matter of five minutes. The Gandhis appeared before Metropolitan Magistrate Loveleen, who also granted bail to Congress treasurer Motilal Vora, Gandhis’ family friend Suman Dubey and another party leader Oscar Fernandes after they appeared before it. All were asked to furnish a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and a surety of like amount, respectively. The walk back from the court and the subsequent appearance before the media at AICC headquarters on 24, Akbar Road, was a study defiance and a show of aggressive body language. Both the mother and son refused to take any questions from the media and departed after a brief statement. “The Central government is misusing government agencies to target the opponents. We are not afraid. Our fight will continue. Our struggle for Congress policies and in the interest of the poor will continue,” said Sonia. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi also accused the Modi government of levelling false allegations. “I and Congress will not bend. We will continue to struggle for the poor,” he said before making his way out. With agency inputs