New Delhi, |
Dec 8 (PTI) The National Herald case today created a political storm with the Congress paralysing Parliament, accusing the Government of “political vendetta” against its leaders, a charge strongly denied by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who asked Sonia and Rahul Gandhi to face trial.
Asserting that the Congress party and its leaders have a lot to answer for, Jaitley dared them for a debate on the matter in Parliament instead of disrupting it tomorrow.
A day after the Delhi High Court dismissed the plea of the Gandhis and others for quashing of summons in the Herald case, Congress members forced repeated adjournments in both Houses of Parliament shouting slogans against the Government.
No business could be transacted before the final adjournment a little after 3 pm.
Meanwhile, a local court today gave the Gandhis and four other accused exemption from personal appearance today but asked them to be present on December 19 when the case will be heard.
After a strategy meeting at the Parliament House before start of proceedings, Sonia Gandhi said, “I am the daughter-in-law of Indira Gandhi. I am not scared of anyone. I am not disturbed.”
She invoked the legacy of the late Prime Minister when she was asked to comment on a union minister’s comment “why is she afraid of facing the court.”
Speaking in Cuddalore, the party Vice President said he “absolutely” saw “political vendetta” alleging that the Centre thinks it can stop him from asking questions.
“That is not going to happen. This is the way Central government functions. I absolutely see a political vendetta,” he said.
Later speaking to reporters in Chennai, Rahul Gandhi dared the government to do “whatever they want to do” but he would not back off an inch.
“I have said before they will do what they will. I will do my job in the opposition job which is to ask questions from the government. I am not afraid of these things. I will not back off even an inch. Let them do whatever they want to do,” he said. .
